Liverpool

Liverpool

Premier League • England

Liverpool told Klopp change won’t work unless one man plays, as pundit claims Salah will lose out big

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah

A recent Liverpool change instigated by Jurgen Klopp won’t work unless one man plays, and the player who’ll lose out most if he doesn’t is Mohamed Salah, according to one observer.

After winning three on the spin by an aggregate scoreline of 9-1, Liverpool were brought back down to earth on Saturday. The Reds travelled to the City Ground to take on struggling Nottingham Forest. However, it was the visitors that laboured throughout the contest, ultimately falling to a damaging 1-0 defeat.

Liverpool did have chances to score, most notably through Virgil van Dijk at set pieces. However, after plundering four goals in his last three matches across all competitions, Mohamed Salah was kept noticeably quiet.

His sub-par display coincided with playing at centre-forward instead of his customary left wing position.

Klopp has tinkered with his usual 4-3-3 system of late, playing both a 4-2-3-1 and a 4-4-2 at times. Against Forest, Salah was the highest player up the pitch and played central all afternoon.

His 22 touches were the lowest of all Liverpool starters. They were also the second fewest of any starter from either side – including goalkeepers – apart from Forest centre-half, Steve Cook (20).

Salah’s partner in crime for much of the contest was Roberto Firmino. However, speaking to Football Insider, former Premier League striker, Kevin Campbell, explained why only one man should play alongside Salah up top.

Darwin Nunez the perfect foil for Salah?

The former Arsenal and Everton frontman reckons Darwin Nunez is the perfect player to partner Salah up front.

Explaining why, Campbell claimed the threat he offers ensures opposing players must pay him due attention and can therefore never double or triple up on Salah.

Initially hailing Nunez for his threatening displays of late, Campbell said: “Listen, he made a difference against Man City and West Ham.

“He was exposing the defence. When he plays it frees up Salah. The defenders have to worry about Nunez as well as Salah. It frees up space for others.

“Nunez’s finishing has not been the best but other than that…

“He caused Man City all sorts of problems with his strength, pace, power and movement. I think he has done really well in recent weeks. He is a presence.

“I have been impressed with him. I think he has made a real difference in recent weeks.”

Nunez-Salah partnership could return against Ajax

Nunez missed the Forest clash through a minor hamstring issue picked up against West Ham.

Klopp claimed his substitution mid-way through the second half against the Hammers was a mere “precaution”. As such, Nunez was never likely to face a lengthy lay-off.

On that front, the Athletic provided a promising update on Nunez’s status ahead of Liverpool’s Champions League clash with Ajax on Tuesday night.

They reported Nunez – along with Thiago Alcantara and Ibrahima Konate – should ‘all come back into contention’ for the trip to Amsterdam.

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