Liverpool Debate Sparked as Gabby Agbonlahor Compares Mo Salah Work Charge to Lionel Messi
Liverpool have already seen loads of drama this season, however few matters are stirring dialogue fairly like Mo Salah’s type. After scoring 29 Premier League targets final marketing campaign, the Egyptian has simply two in his first seven league appearances this time round. A subdued efficiency within the 2-1 defeat to Chelsea did little to silence doubts, with a number of squandered probabilities leaving followers pissed off.
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Gabby Agbonlahor, by no means one to carry again when analysing Liverpool on talkSPORT, provided a blunt evaluation after watching Salah wrestle at Stamford Bridge. Whereas acknowledging the winger’s enduring significance, he argued that sure elements of Salah’s sport are starting to resemble Lionel Messi in his later years, significantly off the ball.
Defensive Effort Below Scrutiny
Agbonlahor stated: “The defensive half is true (in regards to the criticism in direction of Salah) as a result of the variety of occasions Cucurella goes ahead and it’s two-v-one on Conor Bradley and Salah kind of tries to press slightly bit then simply stops and relaxes like we now have seen [Lionel] Messi do time and time once more over his profession.
“Liverpool can’t afford to be a person down defensively. You’ll be able to inform when Mo Salah just isn’t at it as a result of defenders are beginning to [say]: ‘Go on attempt to run me’. Cucurella and [Benoit] Badiashile had been getting actually tight to him and stated: ‘Go on attempt to run me on the surface’ and at any time when he did, they took the ball off him.
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“Cucurella had him in his pocket the entire 96 minutes.”
Picture: IMAGO
It was a withering commentary, but Agbonlahor was clear that criticism comes with context fairly than condemnation. The previous Aston Villa striker identified that even when off color, Salah nonetheless supplies moments of sophistication.
High quality Nonetheless Evident in Flashes
“Within the first half, with the surface of the boot and Isak places it over the bar. If he scores that, you’re going: ‘Wow, Mo Salah’. He’s nonetheless acquired the degrees of high quality he has proven over his profession.”
Agbonlahor highlighted that Liverpool lack a pure alternative in the event that they did need to rotate Salah. “Frimpong can play on the precise of midfield however he’s not been at it this season so you may see why he’s stayed on in video games and may get you that aim. It feels harsh ever criticising him.”
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Arne Slot’s Balancing Act
With Arne Slot now tasked with defending Liverpool’s Premier League title, he should determine how a lot freedom Salah may be allowed. Agbonlahor believes Slot will demand extra with out the ball. “Arne Slot has most likely acquired to take a look at it and say: ‘You’ve acquired to do your defensive tasks’.”
But even with the scrutiny, Agbonlahor completed with religion fairly than worry. “We’re nonetheless early within the season. I’m certain Mo Salah is his largest critic and is aware of he may have accomplished higher… I’m certain he’ll come good.”
Liverpool supporters will hope that prediction lands sooner fairly than later. If Salah finds his rhythm once more, the dialog will rapidly swap from Messi-style strolling to Messi-style profitable.