Salah, space, and the bigger problem at Liverpool

Let’s get the uncomfortable bit out first: if Mohamed Salah were to go in January, it wouldn’t feel like a football decision about minutes, form or whether he can accept rotation. It would feel like money. And that’s why the mood around it would turn sour so quickly.

Salah’s never carried himself like a lad itching to down tools. Whatever people think of the modern game, he’s been the model pro at Liverpool, and he clearly cares about how he’s seen on the Kop. So when there’s a flash of frustration after a match, I’m more inclined to read it as a response to uncertainty and perceived broken promises than some sudden change in character.

Salah hasn’t declined, he’s evolved

One thing that gets missed in the noise is how Salah has adapted. He’s not the pure chalk-on-the-boots sprinter from the early days, skinning full-backs on sheer burst every other minute. Now it’s more about tight control, body strength, and that knack for turning a 1v1 into a 2v1 in his favour.

He’ll hold a defender, tempt a second one over, and suddenly there’s a yard of grass for a runner inside. That’s not dithering. That’s a forward manipulating the shape. The frustrating part is you only get value from that if you actually get him the ball in those areas, often enough, and with the rest of the side ready to gamble on the space he creates.

Our forwards can’t hurt teams if they don’t see it

There’s a bigger tactical issue sitting underneath all of this: too often we take ages to progress the ball. It becomes centre-back to centre-back, then back again, and by the time it arrives wide the opposition are set and comfortable.

You can argue about personnel, but the principle is simple: if the front line is living off scraps, everyone looks worse. Salah, Cody Gakpo, whoever plays the nine, it doesn’t matter. You can’t isolate full-backs and you can’t attack the box with conviction if the tempo is slow and the distances are stretched.

We still need pace in the frontline mix

It’s fair to say we could do with a proper direct speedster in the forward line, because Salah and Gakpo aren’t really that type. If the club think Antoine Semenyo fits the bill, you can see the logic. And if Salah did leave, you’d arguably need two options with that threat, not one, because you’re replacing not just goals but the way he pins defenders and forces decisions.

As for formation being “the answer”, I’m not holding my breath. Premier League coaches are too smart for that. Systems get solved; good coaching and good execution keep you moving. For now, I just hope Salah stays at least until the summer and we don’t end up turning a legend’s final chapter into an accounting exercise.

Written by FlyPelicanFly: 18 December 2025