Mo Salah has shrugged off Phil Thompson’s recent comments in which the former Liverpool captain and assistant manager said he was worried about the Egyptian’s form.
Since his ankle injury picked up v Leicester City, Salah has actually racked up two goals and two assists in four games – but due to the (perhaps stupidly) high standards fans and the media expect of Liverpool’s no.11 – there has been criticism of his performances from both.
“It is a concern. The ankle injury that he had, it’s just that push off the mark. It doesn’t look as though he’s free-flowing,” Thompson told Sky Sports, cited by Goal.
“He’s just not getting away from people as you have seen that burst of speed. He’s getting away, but it’s only within tackling distance. His shooting certainly wasn’t on target against Genk and maybe he is saving them all for something.”
In our opinion, Salah should be receiving enormous praise for playing and producing goals and assists when not fully fit – and both fans and the media should appreciate his brilliance far more.
He’s one of the best attackers on the planet and even when he isn’t finding the back of the net, his speed and runs create space for his team-mates.
Salah has shrugged off the comments and smartly said as long as the team is winning, which it is, he’s doing his job.
“To be honest I don’t care what people expect from me,” he said, reported in the Metro.
“As much as the team is winning and scoring goals it’s fine. I don’t have to care what people expect from me because that puts more pressure on you and makes you not perform good. I’m just doing what I want to do and I feel happy about it.”
The Egyptian King will play a vital role on Sunday against Manchester City, a side he’s put to the sword before.
Hopefully he can target Fernandinho, who lacks pace at centre-back, and John Stones – who has a blunder in the locker.