Pundit issues ‘worrying’ Mohamed Salah verdict as footage emerges from Liverpool
Noel Whelan has insisted there is no cause for concern with Mohamed Salah after his horror miss summed up his muted start to the season with Liverpool.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed it is “a good sign” to see the Reds win handsomely without a meaningful contribution from the 30-year-old.
Salah has notched two goals so far this term but missed from a yard out during the 9-0 demolition of Bournemouth on Saturday (27 August).
The Egypt international notched 23 goals and 14 assists last season to claim the Premier League Golden Boot.
However, he has managed just 0.55 expected goals per game this term – as opposed to 0.71 xG per game in the 2021-22 campaign (per FBref).
Salah signed a new contract extension keeping him at the club until June 2025 during the off-season, but Liverpool lost strike partner Sadio Mane to Bayern Munich.
Whelan told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury: “I don’t see him worrying about that miss too much.
“The most encouraging thing for Klopp will be that they weren’t relying on him.
“Nine goals in a game, coming from different goalscorers in different areas – that lifts the pressure off of Salah’s shoulders.
“He should have scored, yes – and on a normal day he may well have had two or three.
“However, it’s a good sign to see other players affecting the game without Salah needing to chip in with a goal or assist.
“There’s nothing to worry about when you’ve got the quality that he has. It’s water off a duck’s back.
“Next game, those kinds of chances will end up in the back of the next.”
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