Is it time Liverpool rested struggling Salah?


With the Merseyside derby looking like a decisive match of the season for Everton boss Marco Silva, one opposing player will also hope that it is a turning point in the campaign from an individual perspective.

It's a fixture in which Liverpool's famous front three have struggled in recent seasons, with just three derby strikes between them. Indeed, The Reds' current top scorer in meetings with the Toffees is Divock Origi, with the Belgian's last gasp winner at Anfield last season his third against Everton, all of which have come at home.

One player who will be very pleased that Wednesday night's match takes place at Anfield is Mohamed Salah, whose sole strike in this fixture was cancelled out by a Wayne Rooney penalty in 2017.

The Egyptian has endured a relatively frustrating campaign to date, though home comforts have offered Salah relief thus far. His six league goals - already seven off the pace of Jamie Vardy as he aims for a third successive Golden Boot - have all come at Anfield. Indeed, if you had only watched the 27-year-old in those matches this season you wouldn't think that he was struggling to reach the standards he has set in a red shirt.

However, away from home the forward has been a shadow of his true self, cast into obscurity by the performances of his esteemed teammates up front. Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino have each scored four league goals on their travels in the league, recording WhoScored.com ratings of 7.43 and 7.47 respectively away from home.

By comparison Salah's score on the road is a dismal 6.51. To put that into context, the former Chelsea man's home rating of 7.80 is enough to rank fifth in the Premier League, while his aforementioned away rating ranks 194th, just below Ashley Young.

 

Is it time Liverpool rested struggling Salah?

 

The fact that Liverpool face Everton at home may allay any fears of another no show from the Egypt international but his recent performances against Napoli (6.55 rating) and Brighton (6.56) at Anfield will be a concern. Withdrawn midway through the second half against the latter, Salah is looking tired and seems to be understandably feeling the effects of an incredibly busy schedule since joining the club.

It wouldn't be a suprise and would arguably be wise if Salah played little to no part in the upcoming Club World Cup. Better still the struggling striker would benefit, physically at least, from being left behind with the kids team tipped to take the field against Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup and afforded a short break ahead of another hectic period of the season.

He's forcing the issue at times as things stand, desperate to get back to his best form, and his composure has suffered as a result. For a player that has missed just five of a possible 90 league matches since arriving at Liverpool and only one of a maximum 31 Champions League matches available in that time, fatigue was always likely to set in at some point.

Throw in a World Cup he should never have been involved in due to injury last year and the expectations of a host country in the Africa Cup of Nations over the summer and Salah has had a lot to bare mentally as well as physically. He will no doubt start the Merseyside derby but if Liverpool were to restore their 11-point lead with a victory, it may be time Klopp gave his former star man a rest.

The emphasis there is on former, with at least a handful of teammates currently outperforming the 2018 PFA Player of the Year. As things stand his importance to the side is waning. A fully fit and firing Mo Salah, however, could be decisive in the second half of a season from which Liverpool are now expected to sail to a first Premier League title.

Is it time Liverpool rested struggling Salah?