Jamie Carragher has urged Liverpool boss Arne Slot to bench Mohamed Salah for the Reds’ forthcoming fixtures following their disappointing defeat to Manchester United at Anfield. The Reds were left reeling after a 2-1 loss on Sunday, with Bryan Mbeumo netting the opener within the first minute of the match.
Cody Gakpo managed to equalise for Liverpool, but Harry Maguire’s late header from a Bruno Fernandes cross that sealed United’s first victory at Anfield since 2016. Salah, who has been struggling in front of goal recently, missed two significant opportunities during the match. The Egyptian forward has now gone seven Premier League games without a non-penalty goal, marking his longest dry spell since joining Liverpool.
Carragher, speaking on The Gary Neville Podcast, suggested that Salah should be benched for Liverpool’s upcoming Champions League encounter with Eintracht Frankfurt and their Premier League away game against Brentford next Saturday.
“I think we’re at that stage now where Mo Salah shouldn’t be a guaranteed starter every week,” he said. “I do think this is a real conundrum for the manager going forward.”
Later, while in the Sky Sports studio, Carragher added: “I don’t think Salah should be like a Virgil van Dijk where it’s like ‘first name on the teamsheet’.
“Liverpool have got two away games – in the Champions League at Frankfurt and then they go to Brentford. I don’t think Salah should start both of those games.
“He should always start at Anfield because Liverpool will be on top, around the edge of the box and more often than not he scores in those situations today.
“But I do think in the away games and helping your full-back, I don’t think Salah should be starting every game right now, certainly away from home, with the form he’s in.”
When questioned if Salah would be content with not playing, Carragher responded: “Would he be OK with that? Probably not. But when you get to a certain age you have to understand that, especially when you’re not playing well, where’s your argument?
“It’s different if you’re banging in the goals and your manager makes a tactical decision and you’re frustrated. I don’t think Mo Salah’s in any position to complain if he was left out of one of the next two away games.”
