Arne Slot warned Mohamed Salah could be 'problem' for Liverpool against Man City

Mohamed Salah has been Liverpool's best forward for almost a decade but he is enduring his worst season since moving to Merseyside, and could leave this summer

Arne Slot and Mohamed Salah(Image: AFP or licensors)

Former Liverpool player Joe Cole believes that Mohamed Salah is a "problem" for the Reds – because too much of the team's play still goes through the Egyptian superstar.

Salah produced arguably his best-ever season last term as he drove Liverpool to the Premier League title, but this season has been his worst since he moved to Merseyside.

Hugo Ekitike has usurped him – for the time being, at least – as Liverpool's most reliable source of goals, but Cole thinks that Salah's long-standing status as the team's go-to man means that Ekitike does not yet enjoy the prominence in the team that he deserves.

Cole believes that Ekitike would be one of the main beneficiaries were Salah to leave the club this summer.

"The first 30 minutes of the Newcastle game [last weekend], Liverpool were taken apart, it could’ve been 2-0," Cole said. "After that, they were sublime. I think the problem for Arne Slot is Mo Salah.

"Hugo Ekitike looks like he’s the type of player that would benefit from having a starring role, but when Mo plays, the ball goes to him all the time because he’s been so good.

"This will be the last three months at Liverpool for Mo Salah. I think he’ll leave at the end of the season and walk out with being an all-time great at the club.

"Going forward, Arne Slot is going to have to find somewhere to adjust the system of how his team play.”

Mohamed Salah has been tipped to leave Liverpool this summer(Image: Getty)

Cole recently identified Jarrod Bowen as a possible replacement for Salah, should the England international suffer relegation with West Ham this season.

“Jarrod is a wonderful footballer, a great character and a hero at West Ham. His name will stand shoulder to shoulder with all the great players that have played for the club,” Cole told Paddy Power.

“He’s loved at the club and he deserves, at the peak of his career, to win silverware and fight at the top level.

“If West Ham were to get relegated, it won’t be anything to do with what Jarrod Bowen has done; he’s been a stalwart for the club. I think he’ll walk away and the majority of the fans will accept that.

“Who does he suit? Obviously, Liverpool, that slot [out wide] might come into play if Mo Salah leaves. He can go and play anywhere.”