Mohamed Salah entered Sunday’s game against Manchester United having never scored against Liverpool‘s fierce rivals, a record he was desperate to set right as the Reds looked to continue their Premier League title charge.
However, he came up against a stubborn United defence and put in a strangely listless display, so much so that he was taken off before the end of the game even as his side chased a winning goal.
Here’s a closer look at how Salah got on during the 0-0 draw.
KEY STATS
Goals – 0
Assists – 0
Shots – 1
Shots on target – 0
Passing accuracy – 79%
Key passes – 0
Dribbles – 1
30-SECOND REPORT
Jurgen Klopp delivered the ultimate verdict on Salah’s performance today. With 10 minutes left and Liverpool chasing a goal to win the game, the manager took off his leading goal-scorer.
The decision may have elicited some surprise; after all, even on a bad day the best players are capable of producing a moment of quality, but the fact that Klopp felt he was more likely to get that moment from Divock Origi rather than Salah was telling. This was a poor performance.
#MUFC are the only side that Mohamed Salah has faced more than once in the Premier League but not scored or assisted a single goal against (4 games).
— ᗷIᒪᒪ ᖇIᑕᕮ 🎙📻 (@billrice23) February 24, 2019
GOT WRONG
Threat
It’s hard to pinpoint anything Salah did well on Sunday. He couldn’t break the shackles of a disciplined United defence, and showed little imagination in trying to do something different to get into the game. Instead he ended with the fewest touches of any player who started the game, and none of those 41 touches were threatening.
Movement
Given that Salah was getting little joy sticking to the wing as he usually does, he should have tried popping up in different places, dropping deeper to get on the ball more often, or perhaps drifting into the centre of the attack to give United something different to think about. Instead, he drifted out of the game.
Passing
There was a strange lack of vision and incisiveness to Salah’s play on the ball, especially with his passing. His link-up play with Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and then Daniel Sturridge was short of its usual best, and it showed as he didn’t create a single chance in the game.
Mo Salah's record against sides also in the top 6️⃣ this season:
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) February 24, 2019
8️⃣ matches
1️⃣ goal#FPL pic.twitter.com/SMt9D9Y470
VERDICT
Salah’s drought against Manchester United continued – though in fairness, it’s only been four games. No one truly doubts the Egyptian’s big-game credentials, but that he keeps failing to have an impact against one of Liverpool’s biggest rivals is no doubt a source of frustration, not least for Salah himself.
Credit should go to United’s defenders, as well, with Luke Shaw in particular doing an excellent job of stifling the Liverpool star. Salah will have some work to do the next time he faces United.
RATING – 4/10
