Analysis of Mohamed Salah as Liverpool star suffers more heartache with Egypt

Chris Bailey 21:02 25/06/2018
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  • After his injury, Egypt’s woeful World Cup campaign and now being cast as the unwilling centrepiece of a political storm, it would have come as pure relief for Mohamed Salah to step back onto the pitch.

    A dead rubber the match may have been but pride was at stake for these two Arab rivals – and Salah scored Egypt’s goal only for his side to go down 2-1 to Saudi Arabia at the death.

    BASIC STATS

    Goals – 1

    Touches – 36

    Dribbles – 2

    Passes – 16

    Key passes – 2

    Dispossessed – 5

    30-SECOND REPORT

    Try as they might the cameras could not find Salah early on as he was cut adrift on the right and failing to affect play.

    He eventually wreaked havoc though with a couple of hopeful balls over the top that may not have troubled a better defence. The first he beautifully lobbed over the goalkeeper, the second a chip that went well wide.

    The 26-year-old also set up a glorious chance for Trezeguet with a flick on the half volley that was subsequently missed.

    GOT RIGHT

    Exploiting weakness –  Salah touched the ball 36 times and made just 16 passes as he tried to conjure up some magic by himself. He was generally effective when he found himself in space, bisecting Saudi’s sluggish centre-backs for his strike and making two key passes, including that chance to Trezeguet.

    GOT WRONG

    Inconsistency – While hardly his fault that his compatriots do not resemble his Liverpool team-mates, Salah was almost apathetic chasing down Saudi defenders on occasion – and even lost a straight foot-race to Saudi centre-back Motaz Hawsawi. He was also robbed of the ball five times.

    At other times, particularly when he drifted centrally, flickers of the Salah we all love and know became apparent.

    VERDICT

    7/10 – It’s not appropriate to critique Salah too harshly – based on the turmoil in the build-up to the game and the quality of those around him. He came up with the goods for the goal and was at the heart of most chances, as rare as they were, that came Egypt’s way. Whether he has a bright future in his national jersey relies not just on him but the protection he gets as football’s newest superstar.

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