Jermaine Jenas has suggested that Mohamed Salah didn’t want to press during one stage of Liverpool’s 2-2 draw against Manchester City on Sunday, as he told Match of the Day 2.
The TV pundit claimed that there were ‘too many times’ when Liverpool had players that just ‘didn’t do his job’, as he highlighted a moment with Salah and Aymeric Laporte.
Liverpool played a very high line against their title rivals, and despite being caught out a few times in the first half, they keep that level of aggression during the second period.
It all resulted in the Reds finding that all-important equaliser, which involved Trent Alexander-Arnold finding Salah in the pockets and the Egyptian feeding Sadio Mane with a lovely-weighted ball.
Perhaps that slow start cost Liverpool from walking away with a memorable win, as Jenas spoke about Salah’s lack of press without the ball.
“There were too many times, in my opinion, where Liverpool found themselves in a situation where one player didn’t do his job,” said Jenas.
“You have got Thiago and Jota pressing. But, when Laporte picks up this ball, Salah says ‘no, I am not going to go’.
“There’s your backline that is playing high and it’s one simple ball. One simple run and we are in behind you.”
Whilst Liverpool-Man City’s FA Cup semi-final showdown on Saturday won’t have a direct impact on the Premier League title race.
The winner of that encounter might just take some form of momentum and edge into the final few weeks of the season, especially if one of them wins in a comfortable fashion.
But, just like their two Premier League games this season, it will probably go to extra-time and even penalties.
Liverpool have already been there with Chelsea this season, so they can draw upon that experience if it comes to fruition.
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