Salah scored 31 goals last season, more than Mane and Firmino combined
Jamie Carragher has suggested that Mohamed Salah was ‘let down’ by Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino last season, stating that his personal standards have never dropped.
The Egyptian has made a sensational start to the new season, scoring eight goals and grabbing two assists in eight games.
As well as this, the Reds forward has failed to score in just one of Liverpool’s games so far this season.
He is joint-second in the Premier League top scorers list – alongside Michail Antonio – with five goals.
Considering this, Sky Sports pundit and former Reds defender Carragher has praised Salah’s ability to consistently perform at the top level, suggesting he could be considered the best player in the division.
“When’s he ever not been on fire this guy? I mean he’s an absolute superstar,” said the 43-year-old. “Right now, you could argue he’s the best player in the Premier League with the form he’s actually in – he’s been absolutely electric.”
🗣"It's unthinkable him not playing for Liverpool in 18 months." 🔴
🗣"I expected him to sign. He said he loved Liverpool when we were at Fiorentina." ✍️
🗣"Is there any player you've never played with." 🤣@Carra23 and @MicahRichards debate if Mo Salah will sign a new deal. pic.twitter.com/AJbOkaTnrz
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) October 3, 2021
Whilst the Merseyside outfit have made a positive start to this season, they endured somewhat of a difficult campaign last season.
Injuries to a number of first-team players – Virgil van Dijk being the obvious example – hampered their ability to challenge across all competitions, with the Reds exiting both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup at the fourth-round stage and the Champions League at the quarter-finals round.
Liverpool also experienced something of a disappointing Premier League campaign, which saw them finish third and relinquish their champions crown to Manchester City.
The ultimate goal – especially towards the latter stages of the season – was to ensure that they qualified for this season’s Champions League and with five wins from their last five games, they managed to achieve it.
Although it was a season that the majority of people involved with the Reds were keen to forget, it was a campaign that once against saw the consistency and class of Salah.
In 51 games, Liverpool’s No 11 scored 31 goals and registered six assists for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
In contrast, the other members of the Reds’ famous ‘front three’ (or four, including Diogo Jota) failed to match the Egpytian’s numbers.
Mane got 16 goals and nine assists, Firmino managed nine goals and nine assists and Jota bagged 13 goals and one assist.
With this in mind, Carragher believes that Salah was somewhat ‘let down’ by his fellow attackers last season.
“At times last season, he was almost let down if you like by the rest of that famous front three, but he’s never ever dropped those standards, he never had,” said the ex-Liverpool man.
Following this, Carragher briefly discussed the current contract situation between Salah and Liverpool, insisting that it would be ‘unthinkable’ for the former Chelsea man to not remain at Anfield past his current deal.
“At this moment, we’re in a situation where he’s got less than two years to go on a contract and it’s just unthinkable that he wouldn’t be playing for Liverpool in the next 18 months,” he stated.
Salah’s current contract expires in June 2023, with many suggesting that the forward is looking for a significant increase in his wages in order to sign a new deal.
Related links:
- Gary Neville mocked by Jamie Carragher following hasty Liverpool tweet
- Jamie Carragher questions why Jurgen Klopp is not involved with Mo Salah contract talks
- Mohamed Salah goes above and beyond with 3am recovery session after AC Milan win
