Michael Owen has questioned two Liverpool stars after the Reds were held to a goalless draw at Goodison Park yesterday.
Jurgen Klopp’s side have won just two of their first six Premier League games so far and look like a completely different side from the one who challenged to the last for the quadruple last season.
Not many of the Anfield squad players can say they are happy with his performance so far this season, but much criticism has been leveled towards Mo Salah with the Egyptian king registering two goals and two assists so far.
Owen claimed the 30-year-old has been ‘non-existent’ recently and suggested the winger needs to play more centrally.
“[Salah] It has been pretty non-existent. We looked at it before the game,” Owen told Premier League Productions (via Football 365).
“What a wide position he is taking this season. Does that have to do with the new centre-forward? Well, he’s been absent for the last three games.
“But I still think that in his absence, he has still been playing down the wings. I wonder if that’s going to be a pattern that’s going to continue for the rest of the season. He certainly continued (against Everton)”.
READ MORE: ‘This is not Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang or Mesut Ozil revisited’: James Pearce dismisses idea Mo Salah has ‘relaxed’ since signing new deal
The former Liverpool and Real Madrid striker also spoke about Joe Gomez’s recent performances and said the number 2 makes him “nervous”.
The England international has started the last four matches alongside Virgil van Dijk, with Ibrahima Konate sidelined with injury and Joel Matip returning to form recently.
“[He]It makes me nervous if I’m honest,” he added.
”That’s a left foot punt and he’s trying to go with the right foot. Then he kicked wrong and basically the ball stopped ten meters from the goal. It’s not ideal.”
When Konate or Matip are back to full form, I’d expect them to return to the starting XI alongside our No. 4, but Gomez is certainly good enough to partner the Dutchman.
During our title-winning campaign in 2019/20, the former Charlton defender was one of our most consistent players and built a strong relationship with the Netherlands captain.
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We have a number of injuries to key men at the moment but with Diogo Jota and Matip gaining some minutes on Saturday and Thiago reportedly close to returning to training, hopefully we can develop some consistency and start moving up in the board.
#Ep58 of The Empire of the Kop Podcast: Qualifying Liverpool’s UCL group, making a new signing… and more!
