Liverpool: Slot Should Begin To Bench Mohamed Salah, Especially In Away Games – Carragher

20 Oct 2025, 13:23 by Richard Ogunsile · Naija News

Former Liverpool defender and Sky Sports pundit, Jamie Carragher, has said Mohamed Salah should no longer be an automatic starter for the Reds following the Egyptian’s recent dip in form.

Salah came under criticism after Liverpool’s 2-1 loss to Manchester United on Sunday, where he missed two clear chances and extended his run to seven Premier League games without a goal from open play, his longest drought since joining the club in 2017.

Carragher made the comments on The Gary Neville Podcast on Monday, suggesting manager Arne Slot must now make tough decisions about how he uses the 33-year-old forward.

“I think we’re at that stage now where Mo Salah shouldn’t be a guaranteed starter every week,” Carragher said.

“I do think this is a real conundrum for the manager going forward. I don’t think Salah should be like a Virgil van Dijk, the first name on the team sheet.”

Carragher, who played over 700 games for Liverpool, advised Slot to consider rotating Salah, particularly in away fixtures where defensive work and pressing are more demanding.

“Liverpool have got two away games, in the Champions League at Frankfurt, and then they go to Brentford,” he explained.

“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 that’s where he scores most of his goals.

“But in away games, with the form he’s in, I don’t think Salah should be starting every game, certainly away from home.”

Salah Not in a Position to Complain

Carragher, a former England international added that Salah, despite his status as one of the Premier League’s top scorers in recent years, must accept squad rotation as part of the natural cycle for aging players.

“Would he be OK with that? Probably not,” Carragher admitted.

“But when you get to a certain age, you have to understand that, especially when you’re not playing well. It’s different if you’re banging in the goals and your manager drops you for tactical reasons. But right now, I don’t think Mo Salah’s in any position to complain if he’s left out of one of the next two away games.”

Naija News reports that Salah, who signed a new two-year contract last summer, has managed just three goals in his last 12 appearances across all competitions.

Once Liverpool’s most potent attacker, the Egyptian has struggled to influence games under Slot’s new tactical system.

The Liverpool boss, who succeeded Jürgen Klopp, faces increasing pressure to rejuvenate the team’s attack as they chase Manchester City and Arsenal in the Premier League title race.