Mohamed Salah: ‘Is this the start of Liverpool’s life without the Egyptian?’
But Salah should not be written off. This is a dangerous game.
He had made 53 consecutive Premier League appearances before this and last season often looked like he was on a solo mission to bring the title back to Liverpool, which he eventually did.
Salah played 419 games for Liverpool, making 383 appearances and scoring 250 goals. Since his transfer from AS Roma in the summer of 2017, he has made 300 league appearances, 288 starts, and scored 188 goals, with a win percentage of 64%.
Liverpool won all 263 matches Salah played in all competitions; win rate 63%.
It’s a talent that can’t be overlooked, but equally Slot wouldn’t be doing his job if he didn’t look at Liverpool’s life beyond Salah, and the victory at West Ham offered some clues.
It will be intriguing to see if Slot can bring him back against Sunderland at Anfield on Wednesday.
Having only scored against Southampton in the Carabao Cup in September, Isak’s sudden half-volley, which will end his 310-minute goal drought in the league in his sixth game, will greatly benefit Isak’s self-confidence.
Wirtz has also shown some signs of what all the fuss is about, with the 22-year-old German playmaker arriving at Liverpool with plenty of slick intelligence while on a loose assignment.
“I’ve been waiting for this and chasing that goal and sometimes it takes longer than you expect, but I’m happy to score a goal and help get the win,” Isak told BBC Sport’s Match of the Day programme. he said.
“It’s never easy. As a striker you need momentum. Sometimes you go through those patches but hopefully this helps you build some good form. We defended really well and scored two goals, very happy days.”
For Liverpool and Slot, it was all about the win; It was only their second win in the league after defeating Everton 2–1 on 20 September.
The fact that this has been done as their expensive summer acquisition shows better form will be an added boost as the pressure valve on the Dutchman’s future is released.
