Graeme Souness tells Mohamed Salah to LEAVE in brutal Liverpool verdict - 'Single biggest reason'

Liverpool legend Graeme Souness believes Mo Salah is the major reason behind the Reds' struggles this season and that the Egyptian should leave Anfield this summer

Graeme Souness has offered his take on Mo Salah's form(Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool legend Graeme Souness reckons Mo Salah ought to depart Anfield THIS summer, after pointing the finger at the Egyptian for the Reds' struggles.

The defending Premier League champions have suffered a challenging campaign under Arne Slot, tumbling to fifth place. They could yet salvage the season with a top four finish and two trophies - the FA Cup and the Champions League - but it has been an extremely demanding title defense.

Salah has likewise endured a testing season in front of goal, netting merely five times in the Premier League. Discussing his form to Mail Online, Reds icon Souness stated: "What happens, in my opinion and in my experience, is your career happens one of two ways.

"When you get to that sort of 33-34 age area, it's either falling off a cliff, or it's a slow decline. I think Salah is the former.

"I went to see the very first game of the season, the Community Shield against Crystal Palace, and I was sitting next to my young son, I said, 'I don't know what's wrong with him?' And then I thought, maybe he needs half a dozen games to get up to speed.

"But he's never improved. His numbers tell you that. His numbers are way down, and he is the single biggest reason why Liverpool are having an indifferent season. Because within that group of players, there'll be some that are feeling the pain, some are feeling the negativity that's around the place, and they're not responding very well to it.

Mohamed Salah has scored just five Premier League goals this season(Image: Getty Images)

"And when you're in that position, you need big players to stand up and be counted. And I think that's been a bit of a shock to Liverpool supporters, the manager and coaching staff, that those guys have not done that."

Souness continued his critique of Salah by suggesting that he is the primary cause of the Reds' challenging season, reports the Mirror. When asked if the forward should depart this summer, he simply responded: "Yes."

Souness further commented: "His best is behind him now, there's no doubt about that. The first person to know that is yourself, and it happens to everyone. I don't see the same sparkle. I think if you're looking for the single biggest reason (for Liverpool's shaky form), it's because he's not been getting the numbers.

"He's been for six, seven years the Liverpool go-to man. He has completely changed games when it wasn't going their way, and he has scored a ridiculous number of goals every season. He's a great - a Liverpool great - but his best season is behind him."

Salah's contract with Liverpool runs until 2027, having only signed a new deal with the club in April last year.