The end of Salah s "myth"? Carragher bluntly said: He should be taken down

When Salah once again missed a good opportunity on the Anfield turf, and when the scoreboard was fixed on Liverpool's dazzling 1-2 loss to Manchester United, a discussion about the future of the team was spreading from the mouth of the famous Carragher to the entire Premier League public opinion field.

The "unshakable" status is loosening

In the Sky Sports commentary box, Carragher's words were sharp and direct: "I think we have now reached a stage where Salah should no longer be the unshakable starter every week." The legendary Liverpool central defender pointed out that the 33-year-old Salah has failed to score a non-penalty goal in seven consecutive Premier League games, which is his worst record since joining the Red Army in 2017.

What is even more worrying is that in the key battle of Dream Theater, Salah missed two excellent opportunities. "His current state is no longer enough to support his privileged status." Carragher said frankly that as Liverpool changes generations, Slott needs to start "thinking differently."

The cruel reality of age and condition

Carragher is not denying Salah's legendary status, but is based on realistic competitive considerations. He proposed a specific plan: Salah should still start at Anfield because he is still a threat with his acumen in the penalty area; but on the road, especially in games that require defensive discipline, perhaps a replacement like Frimpong should be considered.

"When you reach a certain age, you must understand this, especially when you are not in good condition, what reason do you have to complain?" Carragher's rhetorical question went to the core. He admitted that he "loves Salah very much", but then changed the topic and pointed out the cruel reality: "Under the current tactical system, Salah is not of much help to Liverpool's right back."

The new generation is in place, and the future belongs to youth

With Liverpool spending heavily this summer to introduce Isaac and Wirtz, Carragher believes that the club's future should be built around youth and vitality, rather than relying solely on emotion.

"There is a reason why Liverpool invested in Isaac and Wirtz. They represent the next stage." Carragher emphasized, "Salah's legendary status has been solidified, but now is the time to plan for the future."

The landslide behind the data

The statistics are cold and objective: against Manchester United, although Salah created one excellent opportunity and sent 4 key passes, he also missed one excellent opportunity and lost the ball 16 times. His expected goals number was 0.42 but failed to convert into a goal. Sofascore's 6.4 rating truly reflects his mediocre performance.

What is even more alarming is that this is the first time in Salah’s Liverpool career that he has not scored a non-penalty goal in 7 consecutive Premier League games. After scoring against Bournemouth in the first round of the Premier League this season, he has only scored one goal in the last seven league games with a penalty kick.

Slott's problems and confidence

After the game, when faced with reporters' questions about whether Salah had a difficult start to the season, Red Army coach Slott chose to turn the focus to the entire team: "As a whole, we are not satisfied with the current situation."

He pointed out the key to the problem: "Since I coached Liverpool, I have never missed so many opportunities." But he also emphasized that the team "has not lost confidence yet."

The eve of change

Liverpool has suffered four consecutive defeats after losing to Manchester United. The team has exposed problems in positioning ball defense and opportunity conversion. As Carragher pointed out, the air defense weaknesses caused by the lack of size of the full-backs, the pain of integrating new summer players into the team, and the decline of some core players have jointly constituted the Red Army's current predicament.

Standing at the crossroads of change at Anfield, Salah’s story is ushering in a critical turning point. Legends will not be obliterated by temporary status, but the cruelty of football is that it always looks forward. When Isaac and Wirtz represent the future, and when the away record calls for more defensive contributions, Salah may really need to accept a role that is no longer "unshakable".

As Carragher said: "Salah should not be in the squad for every game as the 'first choice starter' like Van Dijk." In the Premier League, a giant wheel that never stops turning, even the brightest stars cannot escape the scrutiny of time.