‘Too much criticism’: Carragher defends misfiring Salah, insists he must start against Sunderland | OneFootball

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has leapt to the defence of misfiring forward Mohamed Salah.

Salah has just 18 goal involvements across all competitions this season — his lowest at this stage of a campaign since joining the Merseyside giants in 2017.

The four-time Premier League Golden Boot winner has also offered little defensively, with pundit Wayne Rooney stating that he should be dropped from the starting line-up.

The Egyptian was finally left out of the starting XI in Liverpool’s 2-0 win at West Ham United, reinforcing suggestions that that he should no longer be a guaranteed starter.

However, Carragher has come to Salah’s defence, suggesting that Liverpool’s form has had a ripple effect on the 33-year-old.

He told The Overlap: “I have been critical of Mohamed Salah more off the pitch this season. Actually, on the pitch, I think he has received too much criticism.

“The team is not playing well, so he is not going to be equally as good. He is going into his early 30s, and we are talking about the first season he has ever had where he has not been amazing.

“Even when Liverpool have had poor seasons over the last seven or eight years, Salah still scored 30 goals. It is the first time he has had a poor start to the season.”

Carragher also believes Salah should start when Liverpool host Sunderland in the Premier League on Wednesday evening.

“Now, for me, I think Salah comes back in against Sunderland,” he continued.

“I have got to think Salah playing away from home is quite sensible in certain away games in Europe — maybe against Inter Milan in the Champions League.

“I would leave him in against Leeds; maybe you take him out so he does not play every week, but it goes back to the makeup of the squad.

“We have basically got no cover for the wide players. Gakpo almost plays every game, and Salah does too because there is no one behind him.”

Meanwhile, manager Arne Slot has confirmed that the Egyptian will leave for the Africa Cup of Nations on December 15.

Slot now has to contend with how much playing time he gives Salah before he leaves for AFCON, beginning with tomorrow’s clash against Sunderland.