United the perfect prey for Salah to calm the doubters

IT'S NOT often that Mohamed Salah is given a day off but that was the case last Sunday.

- BY KIERAN CUNNINGHAM

Two goals from their talisman had secured World Cup qualification for Egypt four days earlier against Djibouti.

So Salah sat out Sunday's 1-0 win over Guinea-Bissau, and his mind might well have wandered during that dead rubber to thoughts of Manchester United.

The talk is of Salah going through a slump in form and struggling to make an impact in open play for Liverpool since early March.

Wayne Rooney, a United icon, didn't hold back when assessing Salah on his podcast following Liverpool's 2-1 loss to Chelsea last time out - a third defeat on the trot.

"Salah's work ethic is questionable. When Salah fails to decide a game with goals or assists, his other play becomes apparent," said Rooney.

"Salah seemed completely lost over the past week. His attitude can be tolerated when the team is performing well, but during a losing streak like this, his posture is clearly problematic.

"I'm not saying to bench Salah. However, he now needs change. If he continues like this, his reputation won't last long"

Quite a shoeing when you consider the fact that the Egyptian made a clean sweep of the various footballer of the year awards in England last season.

But it is impossible to ignore the falloff in his potency. Salah has scored just two goals for Liverpool in the Premier League in this campaign, and one of those was from the penalty spot.