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Peter Crouch believes that Mohamed Salah will be far from happy with being left out of Liverpool’s team in recent games - although he has played down any fears of an immediate transfer.
Salah has been forced to settle for a place on the bench in Liverpool’s last two Premier League games against West Ham and Sunderland - the first time he has found himself in that position since joining the club.
The Egyptian has been far from his best so far this season, having scored five goals and added three assists in 19 appearances, and speculation is once again growing over a potential move to Saudi Arabia.
Whether he will be able to reclaim his position on the right for Liverpool at Leeds on Saturday remains to be seen, but he failed to take his opportunity when called for from the bench against Sunderland, having gone unused at West Ham a few days earlier.
Former Liverpool striker Crouch admits he is worried about Salah’s current situation at Anfield, although he doesn’t see an exit in his immediate future.
“The Africa Cup of Nations is coming up, so he'll be going away anyway,” Crouch told Paddy Power. “I can't imagine he'll be moving anywhere in January, really. He's going to miss lots of games anyway.
“It's a worrying time, he's signed a big contract at Liverpool, and you'd expect him to be starting games. He won't be happy with being left out at all, so I can't see that going very well. He's that type of player, he wants to play every single minute.
“When he was coming off, he was fuming in games. He knows he's not been at the level that he should be this season, but I do think he'll be back, he's too good not to.”
Arne Slot gave little away on whether Salah would be back in his side this weekend, although the Liverpool boss is more than aware of the noise around his winger.
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Asked during his pre-match press conference if he can understand why Salah has been such a major talking point, Slot replied: "Of course. Maybe he even deserves that because has been so influential for this club, for me and for his teammates.
"It’s completely normal that if I don’t play players who have just arrived at the club people – we are already talking about it. So it’s completely normal that people talk about it when he isn’t playing.
"Every player is in my mind to start because we have so many good players and Mo has been such an exceptional player for us," Slot added, when quizzed on whether Salah could feature at Leeds.
"He is always, in my mind, to either start or come in."
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