It Was Inevitable, Liverpool Star In Really Poor Form

@TomCunningham75

Salah’s dip is far from well-timed, but it was always inevitable considering minutes played

The sad truth about standing atop the highest mountain in the world is that the only way is down. Back to reality. Away from this untouchable position where no power can strike you down. And, in what feels like an understatement when saying it aloud, Mohamed Salah was atop THAT mountain – for far longer than many have lasted, too. Yet, just like the countless hikers that have climbed up the very real and far from metaphoric highest mountain in the world (Mount Everest), things could only drop off from there.

Of course, going seven games without a goal in open play has made it seem as though this hasn’t been a gradual climb down, but more of a colossal fall. But factor in an AFCON final loss and a World Cup Qualification exit, and we see a player that is naturally drained. It is worth noting as well, that perhaps one tweet too many from a certain agent of his has not exactly helped sway the headlines into the previous realm of positivity surrounding the forward.

Let’s not forget who Mohamed Salah is, however. Liverpool’s Egyptian King. The Premier League’s current crown wearer. Many may even say world football’s current best. He has 28 goals and 10 assists in a season that hasn’t even reached the latter stages of April yet.

After another frustrating night in Benfica, some seemed to suffer what can only be described as football amnesia or, let’s label it, reactionary compulsion. The urge to completely eradicate any previous moment or game after one set of 90 minutes. Or, as Google calls it, Twitter.

When that compulsive feeling arises, one simple solution is to realise that these players are not robots (I know FIFA, UEFA etc make that hard to believe). And that’s what makes Salah’s heights so far this season that much more impressive. To create the expectations that he has created takes some incredible amount of evidence; proof such as his slaloming run and thumping finish against Manchester City, which saw Bernardo Silva end up on his backside for bonus points.

This is not to say that Salah should be devoid of any criticism. He’ll likely be his own greatest critic. But perhaps it’s worth stopping sometimes and taking into consideration the whys and the hows of a player’s form. When you consider those things in our Egyptian King’s case, it may reveal more answers than frustrating questions.

Best believe, too, the player that scored within a minute of the 18/19 Champions League final; the player that *finally* made Anfield sing about the Premier League title in 19/20 with *that* breakaway goal against Manchester United; the player that almost single-handedly tore Man City apart at Anfield this season will enter The Etihad ready to do what he does best by deciding the big moments.

It is, in many ways, the closest we have ever come to an El Clasico in the Premier League this Sunday, considering the plethora of stars combined with the positions of both clubs at the top of world football. Oh, and the fact that one side has an unstoppable left-footed potential 2022 Ballon D’or winner to call upon.

Spoiler: The above sentence is not about Lionel Messi.

BY TOM CUNNINGHAM