After signing a new contract with a £400,000 weekly wage at age 33, Salah’s form has declined sharply; Klopp hesitates to bench him, and the four consecutive defeats may just be the beginning.

During the 8th Premier League round, Liverpool lost 1-2 at home to Manchester United, extending their losing streak to four in all competitions and three in the league. Salah, Liverpool’s highest-paid player at £400,000 weekly (second only to Haaland’s £525,000), started and played 85 minutes without impact—3 shots with only 1 on target, 2 dribble attempts both unsuccessful, lost possession 16 times, won only 2 out of 6 ground duels, and in his last 7 matches across all competitions, he has scored only one penalty.

Last season, Salah scored 34 goals and provided 23 assists in 52 matches across all competitions, including 29 goals and 18 assists in 38 Premier League games, winning both the Golden Boot and the assist title. He renewed his contract with Liverpool for 2 more years until 2027, but his performance this season has dramatically deteriorated.

From a personal perspective, Salah has been a key contributor to Liverpool, so his £400,000 top salary contract is understandable. However, the veteran Pharaoh has now become Liverpool’s biggest problem. Klopp is reluctant to drop Salah because Liverpool’s current transition and attacking issues stem from Salah’s poor form and tendency to play selfishly without passing.

Liverpool has reached a point where they must consider making Salah a substitute. It remains to be seen if Klopp dares to bench him. Among the top five leagues, the best successor to Salah appears to be Manchester United’s discarded Greenwood, who scored four goals this round in Ligue 1, helping Marseille overtake PSG to lead the standings. If there is no successor for Salah, Klopp might try a two-striker system, finding a way for Ekité and Isak to coexist, with Wirtz’s best position still being the attacking midfield role behind the strikers.