Is it possible that Liverpool is actually better without Mohamed Salah? It sounds crazy, I know! But the stats are starting to tell a different story. Let's dive in, shall we?
As Liverpool prepares to face Barnsley in the FA Cup, a potential eleventh straight game without a loss is on the horizon. This comes after an impressive draw against Arsenal, suggesting that the team has bounced back from a rough patch in November. The Premier League champions are looking like their old selves again.
However, there's a significant change in this rejuvenated Liverpool squad: Mohamed Salah isn't there. Due to his AFCON duties and some time spent on the bench, the team has been without their star player since late December. And here's where it gets controversial... Liverpool seems to be thriving in his absence!
Salah has missed seven Premier League games this season, and Liverpool hasn't lost a single one. While there were some less-than-stellar results, like the 2-2 draw with Fulham, the team also secured wins against West Ham, Tottenham, and Wolves. They even managed that unexpected draw against Arsenal.
Intriguingly, Liverpool has only drawn one league game with Salah playing, but they've lost six out of the 14 games he's started or appeared in as a substitute.
Let's crunch some numbers. Liverpool is conceding fewer goals and scoring slightly more without Salah. And this is the part most people miss... Their points-per-game average has jumped by 18% when he's not on the field! Before Salah's absence, Liverpool was in twelfth place after the first 12 matchdays. Since then, they've played Salah only twice in nine league games and climbed to fourth in the league table.
Whether Salah's absence is the sole reason for Liverpool's resurgence is certainly debatable. After all, he's been a massive success at Anfield. It will be interesting to see if the manager sticks with the winning formula when Salah returns.
What do you think? Is Salah's absence a coincidence, or is something else at play? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
