Mohamed Salah’s sluggish start to the season has sparked debate between Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville, with the two pundits offering differing explanations for the Liverpool star’s dip in form.
The 33-year-old winger has failed to score in his last five matches in all competitions, and Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United marked Liverpool’s fourth straight loss — a worrying run for Arne Slot’s side.
Salah, who has been one of the Premier League’s most consistent performers for nearly a decade, has looked off the pace in recent weeks, leading Carragher and Neville to discuss whether his decline is physical or tactical.
Carragher: “He’s lost that sharpness”
Speaking on The Gary Neville Podcast, Carragher suggested that Salah has lost some of the explosiveness that once defined his game.
“You know, he goes through these little runs,” Carragher said. “When he first came, he had blistering pace — him and Mane, that’s not there so much now. But he still had that sharpness about him. I’m not quite sure that sharpness is still there.”
Carragher pointed to missed chances as evidence that Salah’s clinical edge may have dulled.
“As the ball comes to the back post on two or three occasions — for instance, the Wirtz assist for him that would have been an assist at Chelsea — you think he’s got to finish that. Today, there’s two chances at the back post.”
Neville: “He still looks sharp to me”
Neville, however, disagreed with his former rival’s assessment, arguing that Salah’s movements and decision-making still show signs of sharpness, even if his finishing has been below par.
“I still think he looks quite sharp,” Neville countered, suggesting that Liverpool’s disjointed system under Arne Slot might be a bigger factor than any physical decline.
“I think he looks sharp in the areas you’d want him to — the last 20 yards — but Liverpool’s structure isn’t giving him what he used to get.” — Gary Neville
By this stage last season, Salah had already scored five goals and provided five assists in the Premier League. His current return of just two league goals highlights a clear downturn in productivity.
Daniel Sturridge and Ryan Babel weigh in
Former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge believes Salah’s struggles stem from a lack of chemistry within Slot’s restructured side.
“They’re not the same team they were last year,” Sturridge said earlier this month. “You can tell the chemistry isn’t there right now.”
That lack of rhythm may also be linked to changes on the right flank. Liverpool’s summer signing Jeremie Frimpong, who was brought in as a potential long-term replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, has failed to impress so far, playing just 21 minutes across the last four league matches.
Slot’s decision to finish Sunday’s defeat to Manchester United with Dominik Szoboszlai as a makeshift right-back also raised eyebrows — particularly for former Reds winger Ryan Babel, who urged the manager to give Conor Bradley more opportunities.
“Bradley has so much potential and brings so many things — let him play,” Babel told Liverpool.com. “Give him four, five, six games in a row because he has to learn Premier League football. If you think he’s not good enough, then you have to bring in Frimpong, but I’m not a fan of Szoboszlai playing there.”
What’s really going on with Salah?
Salah’s reduced impact may be a combination of factors — age, tactical adjustments under Slot, and an evolving attacking setup that has yet to rediscover its balance. The Egyptian’s influence remains clear, but his reduced explosiveness is forcing Liverpool to find new ways to play through their right-hand side.
| Mohamed Salah – 2024/25 vs 2025/26 (Premier League) | 2024/25 | 2025/26 |
|---|---|---|
| Games Played | 12 | 11 |
| Goals | 5 | 3 |
| Assists | 5 | 3 |
| Shots per game | 3.6 | 2.1 |
source: Opta / Premier League data – 21 October 2025
Our View: Salah needs structure, not just spark
In our view, Carragher and Neville are both partly right — Salah still has the speed of thought and skill to change games, but his end product depends heavily on rhythm and service. Arne Slot’s evolving system has yet to give him the same support he enjoyed under Klopp, particularly with new full-backs and a different attacking shape.
Until Liverpool restore that right-sided balance, Salah’s form may continue to fluctuate.
FootballPlace analyst Liam Rowe adds:
“Salah’s drop-off isn’t physical decline — it’s tactical disconnection. The link-up that once made Liverpool devastating just isn’t there right now.”
Key Insights
- Salah is without a goal in five matches for Liverpool
- Jamie Carragher says he’s “lost sharpness”; Gary Neville disagrees
- Daniel Sturridge blames lack of team chemistry under Arne Slot
- Ryan Babel criticises Szoboszlai’s use at right-back, urges more game time for Bradley
- Salah’s productivity down compared to last season’s start
What’s Next
Liverpool play away at Brentford this weekend, hoping to halt their losing run and reignite Salah’s confidence. With the Reds chasing top-four momentum, rediscovering the Egyptian’s spark will be key to turning their form around.
👉 Is Salah’s dip just a blip — or the first sign of a wider Liverpool problem under Arne Slot?
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