Liverpool legend Steve Nicol has taken aim at Mohamed Salah after he endured an afternoon to forget against Manchester City. Making his last appearance for the Reds against Pep Guardiola’s side, the forward missed two good chances in either half as well as seeing a penalty saved by James Trafford during the 4-0 defeat.
A hat-trick from Erling Haaland and a well-taken finish from Antoine Semenyo condemned Arne Slot’s side to another defeat. Salah will leave Liverpool during the summer after reaching an agreement with the club to end his contract early.
And Nicol, speaking on ESPN FC, believes Salah’s decline this season is unprecedented. He said: “This is unprecedented. How can you go from almost winning the Player of the Year last year to this? To the fact that now you don’t look as though you know where the goal is.”
Reflecting on Salah’s second-half miss, the five-time league winner with the Reds said: “The fact is, he had plenty of time to get it under control and pick his spot. But his touch is so poor.
“Where’s the power? He’s obviously, his whole body shape’s wrong. And even the penalty kick. He doesn’t have his head up. You watch the majority of people take penalty kicks nowadays.
“They’re all watching where the goalie is. But Mo is so concentrated and so unsure that he has to concentrate on the ball and make sure he gets a good strike.
“And so all that other stuff that you would normally do with your head up, because you’re confident, has completely and utterly disappeared.”
Virgil van Dijk was another Liverpool player who endured an afternoon to forget against Guardiola's side as he was guilty of giving away a first-half penalty.
And speaking alongside Nicol, former Chelsea defender Craig Burley said of Van Dijk: “He’s been poor as well.
“Two guys that were paid a King’s ransom in the summer, two leaders – he’s the captain – two guys that have taken this Liverpool team on their shoulders in different aspects have been two of the worst performers.
“Obviously, [Ibrahima] Konate has had a very, very bad season, but in terms of leadership, positioning and defending with Van Dijk’s quality, he’s been poor.”
Reflecting on the defeat, Van Dijk said: “Very difficult - very difficult to accept, very difficult to be out there. Very tough day and I feel bad for the fans as well.
“I can understand that [supporters leaving before full-time]. Obviously they have been going through ups and downs, like we obviously have as well.
“Obviously we would love them to be staying up until the end, but if you’re 4-0 down and the way we played second half, then I can understand the anger. In my time at Liverpool we have been going through tough times and at the moment it’s a tricky one as well.”
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