It was always going to be difficult for Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah to replicate his 32 goal Premier League season of 2017-18. This season did start well. The forward got off to a great start in the league with two goals in three games and 25 Fantasy Premier League points obtained. However, his last three Premier League matches have seen poor performances and just four FPL points gained across two matches. His performance on Champions League matchday 1 against Paris Saint-Germain wasn’t promising. Now, it begs the question, is Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah set for Premier League regression?
Mohamed Salah: The Pharoah of Anfield
Salah tallied a remarkable 303 FPL points last term. He was nearly unstoppable scoring 32 goals and adding 12 assists in 36 games. Salah was at the heart of everything good — and bad — the Reds did a year ago. Without him on the pitch, Liverpool struggled and failed to find someone who could replace his goals and assists. He made everyone better including forward partners Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.
Liverpool are not the same team this term as they were last. Jurgen Klopp’s heavy metal football has given way to a hard pressing team that isn’t afraid to take their foot off the accelerator. It is as if Klopp’s heavy metal has given way to more melodic choruses. Salah isn’t the constant out ball for Liverpool this season as teammates aren’t immediately thumping balls downfield to him.
In addition, teams know Salah’s strengths and in recent games, Leicester, Tottenham, and PSG in the Champions League, have adjusted to keep him from beating them.
Liverpool are gearing up for a difficult stretch of matches. Chelsea, Manchester City, Chelsea in the EFL Cup, and Napoli in the Champions League are on the horizon. Liverpool need Salah to play at his best. That doesn’t mean they need him to carry the club as he did for large parts of last term.
Salah’s lack of form over the last three matches looks like it could set in. The forward not only experienced a career season in 2017-18, but he went to the World Cup following the shoulder injury that forced him out of the Champions League Final. Salah may get a chance to rest. His shoulder isn’t 100 percent and it seems to be affecting him. FPL managers may consider removing the Egyptian from their squad this weekend and look for him to gain some form.
