Liverpool legend, Graeme Souness, has delivered a blunt critique of Mohamed Salah’s current form, accusing the forward of lacking both desire and intensity as the club continues to flounder this season.
The Reds suffered a heavy 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest at Anfield over the weekend, marking their eighth defeat in 11 matches across all competitions and their third three-goal loss in five games.
Despite a staggering £446 million summer investment, which brought in players like Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak, and Hugo Ekitike, Arne Slot’s side has struggled to replicate the title-winning form of last season.
Salah, in particular, has seen his performance drop sharply. The 33-year-old scored an impressive 57 goal contributions in 52 games during the 2024–25 season, but has managed only five goals in 17 appearances this term.
His reduced output coincides with opponents exploiting defensive weaknesses on his flank.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Souness did not hold back, “How long have we got?” he began. “He’s been an absolute superstar. He’s been the go-to man for the last seven years. If you’re picking an all-time Liverpool eleven, he’s one of the first names on the teamsheet. I think it’s his brother that’s turned up this season.”
Souness highlighted early warning signs in Liverpool’s Community Shield defeat to Crystal Palace in August, pointing to a moment he believes reflects Salah’s lack of intensity:
“There was a ball played down the line and he could easily have gone to challenge the full-back,” he recalled. “He’s not going to win it – he’s not big or strong in the air – but at least make life difficult. He made no attempt to make that challenge.”
While acknowledging that Salah has never been known for physical battles, Souness expressed concern over the forward’s apparent drop in effort:
“He’s never been the bravest, never going to dive into a 50/50, and I wouldn’t want him to because he’s such a genius at the top end. But he’s shown a lack of appetite. Hard words are sometimes the kindest words, and he needs them to get back to being the superstar he has been for Liverpool. This season, he has not turned up.”
With pressure mounting on both the squad and manager, Liverpool will be hoping their talisman can rediscover the spark that made him one of the Premier League’s elite.
