Introduction
Yet another game has gone by in the Premier League that Salah has failed to impact. A defeat against Arsenal highlights several flaws in Jurgen Klopp's side, one being Salah's reduced output. Many have pointed out the correlation between his underperformance to the recent contract extension. Is there any truth to this, or has he been better than critics believe? This article will try to answer exactly that and more.
(Salah has not matched his form from last season)
The Story told by Underlying Data
So far this season, Salah has produced 7 goals and 2 assists in all competitions. In the same number of games last season, he had 14 goals and 4 assists. That is a decrease in goal contributions by half. Though it is difficult for anyone to match his standards from the previous campaign (except Haaland), it is not naive to expect more from the Egyptian.
The aforementioned numbers only tell us his tangible output. It does not reveal anything about his performances.
The data proves that his goal contributions match his performances. Per game, he takes fewer shots of inferior quality and generates lesser shot-creating and goal-creating actions. Thereby, a decline in shooting and creating efficiency compared to last season.
Comparing Salah's numbers with other players from Premier League sides paints a different picture.
Weighing up Salah's underlying data with other wingers in the league discloses that he has performed on par with some of the best players in the league in different aspects.
Salah's shooting stats are not prolific, but he has done well as a creator. He may not be playing at the peak of his powers but is producing a fair number of chances for his teammates. It indicates that he is relied on to be more of a creator than a finisher.
Thus, he has not been playing as miserably as some think. Instead, he may have been asked to contribute in other areas.
The Bigger Picture
Any player analysis must be taken with a pinch of salt as, in most cases, the team's performance is a major influence, and so do other external factors.
Every football club operating at the highest level must experience a period of tactical evolution to avoid stagnancy. The biggest example is the shift in Pep Guardiola's system at Manchester City after the purchase of Erling Haaland.
Liverpool needed to progress as well, and they did so by bringing in Darwin Nunez, but it has not been a smooth transition. He does not play like Firmino but has other qualities that Klopp can utilize.
They are struggling to find the perfect formula. The Reds are still trying to figure out a setup to get the most out of their best players. However, the Premier League is not merciful. The longer they take to find the answers, the more points they lose.
Therefore, Salah's diminished output has various reasons. When the team performs, the Egyptian will shine, and the other way around. Although it has been a prolonged adjustment period, Jurgen Klopp should be allowed the time to find a solution. There aren't many better men for it in the football world.
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