1 week ago
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Ibrahima Konate has sent his support to Mohamed Salah amid his current downturn in form and claimed he remains Liverpool’s best player.
The Egyptian has struggled this term, scoring just one goal from open play in eight Premier League matches. He was anonymous for long spells against Manchester United on Sunday, and there have been calls for Salah to be dropped from the side amid his alarming run of form.
But Konate claimed in a recent interview with Sports Direct that Salah is still the best player at the club, placing him ahead of Virgil van Dijk, Alexander Isak,and Florian Wirtz.
Konate’s backing will not stave off the criticism Salah has received in recent weeks, however, with numerous detractors beginning to question the logic of why Liverpool handed the 33-year-old a two-year contract in the spring.
That said, few could have foreseen such a drastic blip from Salah, who won the Premier League Golden Boot, Playmaker Award, and all three player-of-the-season trophies.
But such has been the change this season that, with five minutes remaining on Sunday against United, Liverpool’s no.11 was replaced as the Reds chased an equalizer.
Arne Slot defended Salah, telling Sky Sports: “I think after games like this, it is quite normal that people are very focused on individual players.
“In the first five or six games, it was mainly about the signings we did. Now, we have to talk about Mo Salah.
“I think we have had more than enough chances to score a goal. Mo missed a big one, and some others missed big chances.
“We are not used to this from Mo. We needed a goal, but we also needed a player who can create something in that end phase. That is what Jeremie Frimpong did, and he had a great action for Cody Gakpo.
“If we were 3-0 up, then I think Cody would have scored — I cannot guarantee this, but like I said, every player has tried everything, but it didn't work out.”
Salah’s output this season is set to be further impacted by his involvement in the Africa Cup of Nations over December and January, and such is the need for Liverpool to have more reliable service from the right wing, the Reds have even been linked with a mid-season move for Bournemouth’s Anotonie Semenyo.
In the meantime, Salah will hope to resurrect his concerning performance levels, starting with Wednesday’s Champions League encounter against Eintracht Frankfurt.
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