Allardyce criticises Carragher over Salah comments
Jamie Carragher has been accused of chasing popularity by former Premier League manager Sam Allardyce after the pundit claimed that Mohamed Salah’s “legs are gone”, reports BritPanorama.
Salah was benched as Liverpool secured a victory against West Ham on Sunday, leading to manager Arne Slot acknowledging the winger’s dissatisfaction with his non-starting role. This game marked a notable return to form for the Reds in the ongoing season.
After the match, Carragher expressed his view that Salah is no longer meeting the high standards expected of him. He stated, “The catalyst for Liverpool at the very start of the run in 2018 with Jurgen Klopp was Alisson, [Virgil] van Dijk, and Salah. Alisson’s injured a lot now, he doesn’t play so much. But you watch Van Dijk now, not the same player, and Mo Salah looks like his legs have gone.”
Allardyce, who briefly managed the England national team in July 2016, responded critically to Carragher’s remarks, describing them as “absolutely pathetic.” He implored Carragher to reconsider his statement, asserting, “That’s a disgrace. His legs haven’t gone.” Allardyce suggested that Carragher’s comments were aimed at maintaining relevance within the media landscape.
In defence of Salah, Allardyce pointed out the absurdity of the claim, remarking, “How can his legs go from what he did last year, having the summer off, and then his legs go this year? How can that happen? It doesn’t happen overnight.” He emphasised that Carragher has no insight into Salah’s training or current condition.
Salah’s current season has seen him score five goals and provide three assists across 18 appearances, a decline from his previous 2024-2025 campaign, during which he claimed the Premier League Golden Boot and Playmaker awards with 29 goals and 18 assists. Additionally, his average touches per game in the opposition’s box have decreased from 9.6 last season to 6.2 in the present season.
This sharp decrease in performance metrics, including dribbling attempts and expected goals, has raised questions about Salah’s current form and fitness. Recent analyses indicate that his scoring and attacking contributions are witnessing a significant downturn, illustrating the high expectations faced by players of his calibre in the Premier League.
As the debate continues, it serves as a reminder of the thin line between critique and casting doubt, illustrating how the discourse surrounding player performance can swiftly devolve into personal battles within the football community.
