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Wayne Rooney has once more criticized Mohamed Salah, claiming the Liverpool forward isn't contributing enough defensively during the team's current difficult spell.
The Reds suffered their fifth Premier League defeat of the campaign to date in Sunday's loss at Manchester City. They've now been beaten seven times in their last 10 matches across all competitions, with the title race likely to be beyond them. Liverpool has also been knocked out of the League Cup, but is in a good position in the Champions League.
Salah was prolific last season but has found goals harder to come by this campaign, though the entire forward line has struggled for consistency. The Egyptian has managed just four goals so far but has traditionally been afforded some freedom from defensive responsibilities.
This left Liverpool right-back Conor Bradley isolated against City winger Jeremy Doku, who produced an outstanding performance at the Etihad.
The Belgian claimed the Player of the Match award after scoring a spectacular goal, but Rooney feels Bradley should have received greater support in dealing with him.
He said on Match of the Day: "Salah is in the team to score goals and create goals. He's been one of the best players in the Premier League over the last six or seven years. But in big games, you have to double up.
"You have to get back and help your teammate. Conor Bradley was having a really tough game today, to be left on his own.
"Ryan Gravenberch was trying his best to help him and get over there, but then that leaves spaces in other positions. I think Salah has to come back and help his teammate."
Salah struggled to make an impact in attack as City's defense successfully nullified the threat posed by him, Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz.
The result allowed City to narrow the gap on Arsenal while extending their lead over the champions, who cannot afford any further mistakes if they harbor ambitions of retaining the title.
Rooney has previously been vocal in his criticism of various elements of Liverpool's performances this season. In the aftermath of its defeat at Chelsea several weeks ago, he expressed concerns regarding Salah's defensive contribution.
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The former Manchester United striker insisted that his attacking output alone was no longer sufficient and challenged him on his work rate.
"When it's going well and you're scoring goals and winning games it's great and the team will put up with that but, over the last week, I would question his work ethic," he claimed.
Liverpool.com says: For all that there has been talk of Liverpool not being defensively good enough, players like Salah were not doing much different in that regard last season. The big change is that the attack isn't clicking.
If Salah was scoring goals regularly and Liverpool was looking dangerous going forward, any talk of being weak at the back would simply not be happening. Hopefully, in the upcoming weeks, that will be the case, with some easier fixtures to come.
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