Liverpool supporters expressed sharp criticism of Mohamed Salah following the team’s 1-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final.
The Egyptian forward, known as Liverpool’s star and leading scorer, failed to make an impact during the match, leaving fans questioning his performance.
Salah, who has consistently been a key player for Liverpool, struggled to threaten Tottenham’s goal.
For the first time in a long while, he neither scored nor created opportunities for his teammates, leading to an outpouring of discontent on social media.
Fans take to social media
Criticism poured in on social platform X (formerly Twitter), where fans did not hold back their frustration.
One fan questioned, “Where was Mohamed Salah tonight?” while another lamented the decision of Liverpool’s head coach, Arne Slot, to keep the forward on the pitch for the entire match despite his subdued display.
“Slot did not give Salah, Alisson Becker, Gakpo, Van Dijk, or Mac Allister a rest, and despite that, the team is losing.
It is difficult to accept that,” one supporter wrote, echoing frustration with the team’s overall performance and the coach’s tactical decisions.
Some fans focused specifically on Slot’s reluctance to substitute Salah.
For the millionth time, Arne Slot, if Mohamed Salah is bad, replace him like you would any player. Be brave for once.#liverpool#YNWA #TOTLIV @LFC @LivEchoLFC pic.twitter.com/ypOGeUWnEm
— W🅰️T🅰️Ni 🇵🇸🇰🇼 (@LIV_KT) January 8, 2025
Salah played incredibly poorly, why didn’t Slot take him off the pitch?” another fan questioned.
Criticism of the coach intensified, with another comment reading, “For the millionth time, Slot, if Salah is not successful, replace him like you would any other player.
Be brave for once.
Calls for tactical changes
Fans also criticized the broader management of the match, calling out Slot’s decision-making.
Many pointed out that Liverpool’s starting lineup, which included key players like Salah, Alisson Becker, and Van Dijk, was perhaps overworked and lacked the freshness to deliver against a resilient Tottenham side.
A rare off day for Salah
Despite the backlash, Salah remains one of Liverpool’s most consistent performers.
However, the defeat at Tottenham has highlighted concerns among fans about the team’s reliance on key players, particularly in high-stakes matches.
The second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final will offer Salah and Liverpool an opportunity to bounce back and respond to the criticism.
For now, though, fans are left questioning the decisions that led to the disappointing result and the lackluster performance from one of their brightest stars.
