From control to chaos: how can Slot revive faltering Liverpool?

With the talismanic Salah and several new signings struggling, the head coach is faced with big decisions

- Andy Hunter

Make a call on Salah

For almost the entirety of Mohamed Salah's Liverpool career, Anfield would have been in uproar over the forward being withdrawn moments after their team had fallen behind and with the clock ticking down on another defeat. Especially facing Manchester United, against whom he has scored a record 16 goals. Not on Sunday. Salah's 85th-minute substitution for Jeremie Frimpong was accepted as a necessary last throw of the dice following another poor display from the Egypt international. The reaction to the switch was telling. Salah's guaranteed place in Liverpool's starting lineup is under threat for the first time since he joined more than eight years ago. The threat would be greater if Federico Chiesa or Frimpong, the only real alternatives on the right, made as much of an impact when starting as they do off the bench. There are no replacements of Salah's level in the squad for the system that Slot operates. Any dip in form by the 33-year-old is therefore felt acutely. Whether it is helping Salah by selecting a more settled side around him, or rewarding Chiesa's lively cameos with a starting role, Slot has a pressing issue to address on the usually phenomenal side of Liverpool's forward line.

Realise risk can bring reward but also disruption