"Mohamed Salah is back in the Liverpool squad. Back on the pitch, back unsettling defenders, and back in a team that knows how to win. Yet, while his return from the Africa Cup of Nations feels familiar, the reality is anything but. Liverpool today is not the Liverpool Salah left behind-and neither is his role within it. For years, Salah was the club's undisputed talisman. His goals powered title charges, his brilliance defined Jurgen Klopp's era."
"The tension between Salah and Slot didn't appear out of thin air. Late last year, Salah was left out of the starting XI for the first time in years-a decision Slot framed as tactical. For Salah, it felt like demotion. His frustration boiled over in December, culminating in a very public outburst after being benched for a key league fixture."
"Salah's reappearance in the Champions League against Marseille was symbolic-a sign that bridges haven't been burnt. He started, Liverpool won, and the unbeaten run stretched to 13 games. But the performance told a different story. Salah had 28 touches, only three inside the Marseille box, and failed to register a shot on target. His best chance-a left-footed effort after Cody Gakpo's clever pass-was squandered."
Mohamed Salah has returned to the Liverpool squad after the Africa Cup of Nations. Liverpool under Arne Slot no longer revolves solely around Salah despite his world-class quality. A late-season benching and a public outburst signaled tension and a shift in team hierarchy. Salah started against Marseille as Liverpool extended an unbeaten run, but he recorded only 28 touches, three inside the box, and no shot on target. The team won without relying on Salah as the focal point. The coming weeks will test Salah's ability to adapt to a different tactical role and the club's evolving identity.
Read at Soccer News
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