2 hours ago
40
John Aldridge has said Liverpool’s change at right-back has impacted the form of Mohamed Salah.
The winger has endured an indifferent start to the season and, although no Liverpool player has produced better returns in terms of goal involvements, Salah’s impact in games has often been fleeting in the early weeks of the campaign.
Against Atletico Madrid, Salah looked sharp and delivered a goal and assist, but in the Premier League he has tended to struggle. Aldridge puts much of that down to the loss of his on-field relationship with Trent Alexander-Arnold on the right flank. Throughout the majority of his time at Liverpool, Salah has operated with Alexander-Arnold playing behind him.
Of course, the defender’s summer defection to Real Madrid means Arne Slot has been forced to experiment with new options.
Conor Bradley, Jeremie Frimpong, and Dominik Szoboszlai have all been given stints at right-back, and Aldridge believes Salah has been impacted by the lack of a steady partner.
“Neither Conor Bradley nor Jeremie Frimpong have managed to properly lock down that jersey at present, although to be fair both have been hampered by injury already this season,” the ex-striker wrote in the Liverpool Echo.
“But it says much that in the second half at Crystal Palace, Arne Slot chose to push Dominik Szoboszlai into that role. He clearly doesn’t have the confidence in Bradley and Frimpong just now.
“That will obviously change over time, and Frimpong did come on at right wing in the second half even if it wasn’t his best performance.
“It’s clear replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold won’t be an easy fix and Mohamed Salah is suffering a bit without his former team-mate.
“Yes, Salah is still posting pretty good numbers this season in terms of goals and assists but his performances have been a bit hit and miss.”
Meanwhile, Aldridge claims Liverpool’s defeat against Crystal Palace on Saturday is proof the Reds can’t continue to pick up three points without putting in effective performances.
The 2-1 loss at Selhurst Park was Liverpool’s first of the campaign, with late goals against Bournemouth, Newcastle United, Arsenal and Burnley rescuing victories in the first four league fixtures of the season, and masking uncertain team displays.
“There’s no doubt Liverpool haven’t been firing on all cylinders this season and there are those who believe we don’t deserve to have as many as 15 points this season,” wrote Aldridge.
“That might be true and we do need to start backing up that good start now. But our fixture list hasn’t been the easiest and it continues over the next few Premier League games.”
English (US) ·