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Former Chelsea centre-back Frank LeBouef claims Liverpool attacker Mohamed Salah's level has dropped massively this season. The Egyptian is in his ninth season at Anfield since arriving from AS Roma in the summer of 2017.
Mohamed Salah's underwhelming season so far
The Egyptian has great overall stats for the club, scoring 251 goals and 120 assists in 427 games across all competitions. However, he has been unusually below average this season - six goals and seven assists in 26 games across all competitions.
Salah's latest goal contribution - an assist - came in the Red's close 1-0 Premier League win at Sunderland on Wednesday, February 11., but the Egyptian has not scored in eight league games since doing so in the clash against Aston Villa in November.
“At some point, even when he was scoring goals, you could have seen some clumsiness (with Salah)," Lebouef said on ESPN. "I find it strange from a player like him. He’s kind of clumsy. This season, it’s like we only see the clumsiness. It’s insane because he went from being somebody exceptional to being a really average player.
“It’s worrying me because he doesn’t deserve this. Salah has shown, especially in his time at Liverpool, all his talent. Where is his talent? It’s like it disappeared.”
Mohamed Salah's fabulous record last season
Last season, Salah had an amazing record of 34 goals and 23 assists in 52 games across all competitions last season. That included 29 strikes and 18 assists in 38 outings in the Reds' victorious Premier League season in Arne Slot's first season in English football.
Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk opens up on win vs Sunderland
Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk appreciated his club's determination and work ethics in their close Premier League win against Sunderland at Stadium of Light.
The Dutch defender's strike was the only goal on the night, his second in the league in 26 games this season - as he acknowledged the quality of the opponent, talking to TNT Sports:
"A great win, hard work, on a very interesting, difficult pitch. Recover and go again on the weekend. It was quite a circumstance, but to come here and to play like we did today was a well-deserved three points.
"I think they showed this season how difficult it is to beat them and a lot of credit to them - it is a hard-working team. It is good to come here and for us to win and keep the clean sheet. A good match for us."
The Reds' aforementioned win marked the first time Sunderland lost in the league this season since getting promotion after winning last season's Championship play-off final.
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