As any Liverpool fan will tell you, the Egyptian King, Mohamed Salah, had a record-setting campaign last year. His stellar contributions have been integral in the club’s championship winning campaign. With a breathtaking goal-scoring and creative ability, he finished 4th for pass completion percentage in the opponent’s half. As this season unfolds, Salah is now outside the top 10 for expected goals and assists from open play. That begs the question about his form only seven games into the campaign.
Of course, that does not absolve the warnings as young guns like Amad Diallo hit the ground running in the new role. Since joining, Diallo has quickly turned into an important player for first Manchester United. He was impressive in the makeshift right wing-back role in the recent win over Sunderland. His forward runs have provided crucial support to teammate Bryan Mbeumo, allowing him to find space and contribute effectively to the team’s attacking efforts.
Salah’s Form Under Scrutiny
Lucky for Liverpool, last season Salah didn’t just complete the agreement—he dazzled with style points, single-handedly driving Liverpool’s unprecedented success. He showed his ability to operate in tight areas, doing work on the ball that opened up several scoring opportunities. As the new campaign plays out, Salah’s form has truly dropped off a cliff.
Despite his successes in previous seasons, the numbers tell a different story this time around. Back in MLS, he’s now ranked outside of the top 10 for expected goals and expected assists from open play. This is quite the opposite compared to his sheer dominance throughout the 2021 season. Observers have noted that his positioning compared to teammates has changed, with an apparent struggle to maintain his impactful presence on the pitch.
“Now I don’t have to defend much. It is quite difficult to say one thing, but the tactics are quite different. But I told him, ‘As long as you rest me defensively, I will provide offensively’ – so I’m glad I did. It was the manager’s idea, of course, but he listens a lot.” – Mohamed Salah
This change in Salah’s output has led to questions about his ability to adapt to the opposition’s defense. In their most recent match against Chelsea, Salah often looked like he didn’t want to get too close to Marc Cucurella. Cucurella’s aggressive play down the left flank posed a significant threat to Liverpool, leaving Salah and others scrambling to respond.
Amad and Mbeumo’s Impact on Manchester United
Amad Diallo has been turning heads with his amazing performances for Manchester United. His action performance against Sunderland really showed what he can do, running at pace and picking up the lines, beating defenders and feeding runners in behind. His ability to run at defenders from more withdrawn areas has been crucial in opening up space for the rest of the team’s pressing with front three/second line formation.
Ruben Amorim, Manchester United’s coach, expressed his satisfaction with Diallo’s contributions. He mentioned that just Diallo’s presence helps Mbeumo to do his best work in central areas of the pitch. That shared chemistry and understanding between the two has been key in creating offensive opportunities.
“He can help Bryan to play more inside and worry more with the runs behind the defenders. We missed Amad a lot against Brentford, especially when we are at 2-1 in the second half. To have an extra guy like Amad, it is massive. We are really pleased with him.” – Ruben Amorim
Diallo’s excellent ability to create space for Mbeumo emphasizes the importance of teamwork in football. The connection between these two emerging young stars has changed the face of United’s attack. Their individual talents aside, their collaboration is an underappreciated factor in the team’s recent successes.
Defensive Dynamics and Tactical Adjustments
Even as teams get a feel for what their opponents are planning against them, defensive dynamics are still key in deciding results. In Liverpool’s most recent match against Chelsea, Cucurella’s movements demonstrated this requirement to perfection. By massing players on the left flank, Chelsea crafted several incisive attacking situations that had Liverpool scrambling.
Jamie Carragher pointed out Liverpool’s defensive lapses during the game, criticizing their lack of focus and failure to track opposing players effectively. He had some choice words for the effects of taking too lightly, specifically how lapses like that can rob teams of crucial points.
“They think the game is over, it’s finished. That’s a cardinal sin.” – Jamie Carragher
This observation goes to show the need for heightened awareness from start to finish of a game. Just as teams are taming more complex tactical challenges, the ability to rapidly respond may soon be essential for keeping competitive advantage.
Cucurella echoed the sentiment of paying attention to Liverpool’s weaknesses and that knowing when to counter and attack space would be key to successful counters.
“We know that Salah is already ready to attack, to play on the counter-attack, so we know, and we practise, and the manager tells us, that the space is maybe there,” – Marc Cucurella
Cucurella’s proactive approach is a lesson for everyone on how to read opponents’ tendencies and change your tactics to counter them.
Future Prospects
Moving forward, Mohamed Salah needs to get his groove back in order to help spearhead Liverpool’s challenge to get back at the top of the table. His talent is of course unquestionable, but he’ll most have to be consistent as the season wears on. Fans and analysts alike will be keeping a watchful eye to see if he can recover from this early-season slump.
Recent arrivals such as Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo show that with young talents ready to take center stage. They’re all rapidly becoming indispensable players for their teams. Given their intensity and creativity, they have the potential to be game changers well into the future.
As both sides continue their way through this highly competitive season, tactical discipline will be key to either teams’ success. The performances of seasoned players like Salah juxtaposed with emerging talents like Diallo and Mbeumo serve as reminders of football’s ever-evolving landscape.
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