Salah’s FA Cup Hopes Hinge on Rapid Recovery as Liverpool Faces Defensive Dilemmas
Liverpool’s star forward Mohamed Salah is facing a tense race against time to be fit for the crucial FA Cup quarter-final clash against Manchester City, scheduled for early next month. The Egyptian international was recently sidelined with a muscle injury, ruling him out until after the upcoming international break. This setback is a significant blow for head coach Arne Slot, particularly given Salah’s recent resurgence.
Salah had been in impressive form, netting in three of his last four starts – a tally matching his previous 14 appearances. His performance in the Champions League victory over Galatasaray was particularly noteworthy, considered one of his finest displays of the season. However, the omens turned ominous on Wednesday night when the 33-year-old signalled to the bench to be substituted after scoring a signature goal, sparking immediate concerns about his fitness.
“Indeed, it’s unusual, and as a result, you can expect the outcome: he’s not available for tomorrow,” Slot confirmed ahead of the trip to Brighton. “The good news for Liverpool is that we have an international break coming up, which means the bad news for Egypt is that he can’t join their squad. We’re hopeful that, based on what Mo has shown in the past, he can recover faster than other players in similar situations because he takes exceptional care of his body. History has shown he can return earlier than some others, and with only two weeks until our next fixture, let’s hope he can be back within that period.”
Salah has a remarkable track record of resilience during his tenure at Liverpool, having missed only 10 Premier League matches due to injury since his arrival in 2017. This current muscle issue is his first since a hamstring problem in January 2024.
The absence of Salah, however, exacerbates existing challenges for Arne Slot, particularly on the right flank. The team has struggled with cover at full-back for much of the season, a situation worsened by Conor Bradley’s campaign being prematurely ended by a knee injury in early January.
Navigating a Shallow Squad: Slot’s Tactical Tightrope
The defensive frailties are a constant headache for Slot. In midweek, Jeremie Frimpong, who has himself battled numerous injury concerns, was deployed at right-back, but only managed 67 minutes on the pitch. If Frimpong were to deputise for Salah further forward, it would necessitate a reshuffle in midfield, potentially forcing Dominik Szoboszlai, arguably Liverpool’s standout player this season, to drop back into defence once again. Szoboszlai has been instrumental in midfield, but injuries to players like Joe Gomez have left Slot with limited options.
This recurring necessity to play Szoboszlai out of his preferred position has clearly frustrated Slot, who has repeatedly voiced his concerns. “I don’t know how many times I have to say this: Dominik is a midfielder. Should I repeat this five or six times?” he questioned. “So the moment I play him in a different position doesn’t mean I’m trying to be a tactical genius; it means I lack options. If I have a fit full-back on the bench, you can ask yourself if they are ready to play. Every time I select a line-up, there must be a valid reason why someone is playing right full-back, especially when Dominik is such a valuable midfielder for us. When everyone is available, the team is undoubtedly stronger with him in midfield. However, if we are missing five, six, or seven players, perhaps we can agree that playing him at full-back is not our strongest configuration.”
The reliance on outfield players to fill defensive gaps highlights the depth issues Liverpool is facing. This predicament puts immense pressure on Slot to find innovative solutions while simultaneously hoping for a swift recovery from his key attacking talent. The FA Cup tie against Manchester City is a monumental challenge, and Liverpool’s ability to navigate these squad limitations will be as critical as their attacking prowess. The coming weeks will be a true test of Slot’s managerial acumen and the team’s resilience.
