Is Salah Untouchable? Not for Carragher

Mohamed Salah has always been synonymous with goals and leadership at Liverpool, but his start to the season has sparked debate. Jamie Carragher, one of the club’s most respected legends, surprised fans by claiming that the Egyptian should no longer be guaranteed a spot in the starting eleven.

Speaking on Sky Sports, the former defender explained that Salah “is not on Virgil van Dijk’s level” in terms of being an automatic starter. “I think we’ve reached a point where Salah shouldn’t be guaranteed to start every game,” Carragher said firmly.

The Egyptian, last season’s Premier League Golden Boot winner and fourth in the latest Ballon d’Or rankings, has recorded three goals and three assists so far. However, his overall performances have been below expectations — even prompting coach Arne Slot to substitute him for Jeremie Frimpong during the loss to Manchester United, a decision that raised eyebrows at Anfield.

“He Shouldn’t Start Every Match”

Carragher didn’t just talk about stats; he broke down the tactical context. “At Anfield, yes, he should start, because Liverpool will dominate and create chances. But away from home, where you need to help your full-back, I don’t think he should start every match at this level,” he said.

The former Liverpool defender added that age and current form should matter in the coach’s decisions. “Will he like it? Probably not. But when you reach a certain age, you have to understand it — especially when you’re not playing well. It’s different if you’re scoring and get taken off. But right now, I don’t think Mo can complain if he’s left out for a couple of games,” Carragher added.

A Future Full of Tough Choices

Liverpool faces a demanding stretch, with upcoming matches against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League and Brentford in the Premier League. Carragher was blunt: “I don’t think Salah should start both games.”
His remarks echo a growing sentiment among fans: the myth of an untouchable Mohamed Salah might be coming to an end.