Selfish move exposes the truth about Salah

Salah had to be on the bench in the match against Frankfurt.

But now, the 'King of Egypt' is becoming the biggest problem of Arne Slot's reign - when his ego collides head-on with the team spirit that Liverpool are building.

When the "King of Egypt" forgot how to play for the team

Liverpool's 5-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in the League Phase of the Champions League on the morning of October 23 would have been a perfect night - if not for Mohamed Salah's disappointing performance. In the 84th minute, he was given a chance to face goalkeeper Michael Zetterer. In the center of the penalty area, Florian Wirtz stood empty, only needing a light pass to score.

But Salah didn’t pass. He shot – from too tight an angle, with too poor a choice. The ball was blocked, Wirtz threw up his hands in frustration, and the Liverpool bench fell into a dead silence.

It was more than just a miss. It was emblematic of the conflict between Salah and Liverpool at the moment – between individual instinct and collective philosophy.

Under Klopp, all Liverpool’s attacking play was directed towards Salah. He was the “ultimate weapon”, the end point of every combination. But Arne Slot arrived, bringing a different philosophy: his football was based on system, speed and sharing.

In that scheme, Salah is redundant – or worse, lost. He still moves on instinct, still seeks to make decisions rather than combine, and still believes that every chance must end in his own goal.

It was no coincidence that Slot benched him for two consecutive Champions League matches. Not because of physical strength, but because of mindset. Liverpool are transforming, Salah is not.

Salah is losing himself.

After 12 games this season, Salah has only scored 3 goals - too few for a player who once terrified the entire Premier League. He has lost his scoring touch, his ability to explode and, more importantly, his teammates' trust.

Commentator Troy Deeney commented bluntly: “That is the real Salah. He always wants to score first, thinks about himself first. But now, Liverpool need a player who knows how to pass, knows how to sacrifice. He can't do that.”

Meanwhile, Adrian Durham emphasized: “The situation of not passing to Wirtz says it all. If it continues like this, Salah will be on the bench for a long time. Arne Slot does not build a team around the ego of one person.”

That frankness exposed the harsh reality: Salah is no longer the main character at Anfield.

Wirtz and the Mirror of Opposites

On the other side, Florian Wirtz - Liverpool's most expensive signing - is proving his worth in a completely different way. The 22-year-old doesn't need to score to stand out; he passes, runs, assists and makes his teammates play better.

His two assists against Frankfurt showed how quickly Wirtz is grasping the Slot philosophy. He picks the right pass, chooses the right moment, and most importantly: always puts the team before himself.

That's what Salah once had, but now has lost.

At 33, Salah enters a phase that every superstar has to face: time and ego.

At 33, Salah is entering a phase that all superstars face: time and ego. He still has the hunger, but that hunger has become a burden for a team still trying to find its identity.

If he doesn't change, he'll be left behind. Modern football no longer has room for stars who shine alone. And at Liverpool today, where Arne Slot wants to build a balanced and explosive team, Salah is the most lost piece.

Arne Slot did not need an “Egyptian King”. He needed a warrior who could share the light with his comrades.

Liverpool travel to Brentford this weekend – a game where Slot is likely to continue to rely on Ekitike, Gakpo, Szoboszlai and Wirtz. Salah could be benched again, and if that happens, it will no longer be a “wake-up call”, but a tactical verdict.

From being a hero, Salah is putting himself on the brink of being replaced. There is only one choice - change to adapt, or accept becoming a thing of the past.

Source: https://znews.vn/pha-bong-ich-ky-phoi-bay-su-that-ve-salah-post1596169.html