Having got his wish to be recognised as one of world football’s best-paid players, Mohamed Salah was expected to hit the ground running for Liverpool this season – but like the team itself, something has just not clicked so far for the Egyptian.
Salah’s long-running contract standoff with Liverpool owners the Fenway Sports Group (FSG) finally came to an end in July when the forward agreed a new three-year deal to stay at Anfield.
However, despite enjoying a rare summer off and looking razor sharp in preseason – especially when scoring and assisting as Liverpool beat rivals Man City to win the Community Shield – Salah has failed to reach those same heights in the early weeks of the campaign.
In fact, the 30-year-old has only scored twice in the league this campaign, struggling to influence games as he has done in the past as the club, who came close to winning an unprecedented Quadruple last time around, have made their worst-ever start to a top-flight season under Jurgen Klopp.
Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness even questioned Salah’s commitment on the weekend when pondering: “I hope this is not him getting semi into his armchair because he has signed a big contract,” but is he really struggling in front of goal and if so, why?