One of the standout talking points from the two-legged tie was Mohamed Salah’s relative ineffectiveness. The Egyptian has already notched up a jaw-dropping 44 goal contributions for champions-elect Liverpool in the Premier League and had been touted as a potential Ballon d’Or winner on the back of his 2023/24 campaign so far.
Apart from his converted penalty in the shootout, though, Salah was nowhere to be seen as Liverpool looked lost without their talisman. However, aside from his off days in front of goal, it’s something else that will be concerning Slot and the Liverpool board the most.
Midway through the first half, when the hosts were struggling to impose themselves on the game, PSG were comfortably popping the ball about between their midfield and defence. Slot, unhappy with what he was seeing, was urging the Liverpool attack, particularly Salah, to press with a higher intensity – something the forward failed to respond to.
Instead, Willian Pacho was able to clip a lofted pass over Salah’s head, which found Nuno Mendes in the left-hand channel and helped PSG get the ball to the opposite end of the field. It eventually led to Khvicha Kvaratskhelia getting a shot away on goal, which, as had been a theme throughout the tie, Alisson was able to save.
It didn’t necessarily look like Salah wasn’t trying to press the PSG defenders while they were in possession, moreover, he couldn’t. Only Virgil van Dijk has played more minutes across all competitions for Liverpool this season, meaning Salah, now well into his thirties, is no doubt feeling the toll of an arduous campaign.
More worryingly for Slot, it could pose a problem if Salah pens a contract renewal at Anfield and continues his Liverpool career into next season. The Dutch manager demands high intensity from his players both in and out of possession, but if Salah can’t respond to the ebb and flow of matches at the highest level anymore, Slot’s system could be forced into a rethink.
Most Liverpool fans will be crossing their fingers and hoping Salah puts pen to paper and signs fresh terms. After all, he’s the current King of the Kop. But what if, at least in the long-term, Salah and Liverpool parting ways is the better outcome for both parties?
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