Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk are showing their age this season and has claimed their “legs have gone” amid a run of nine defeats in 12 games.
Liverpool are on their worst spell of results since 1954, falling to a 4-1 defeat to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Wednesday night, with their dramatic decline under Arne Slot coming just six months after the Reds lifted the Premier League title.
Carragher said he found it difficult to criticise two players in Salah and Van Dijk who have played such significant roles in Liverpool’s recent success.
Salah, 33, and skipper Van Dijk, 34, signed new contracts at Liverpool after leading the Reds to their second Premier League title in five years but Carragher said they have struggled this season and urged others in the team to step up.
“You're watching Van Dijk now, not the same player, and Salah looks like his legs have gone,” Carragher said on CBS Sports.
“I don't like criticising them on the pitch, because they're absolutely legendary what they've done, and the legs have just gone, especially with Salah.
"Van Dijk now can't help other players. He needs help himself. That just means that he's a normal centre-back, like I was at one stage. He's not superhuman right now.
“But they've been that good for the football club. I look at some of the others. Step up. Can you only play well when they play well, or they carry you? Their seasons last season were off the scale.”
Having broken records for Liverpool last season, Salah has scored just one goal in his last five appearances while Liverpool lost three games in a row while conceded at least three goals for the first time in 1953.
Slot is under increased scrutiny ahead of Sunday’s trip to West Ham and Wednesday’s home game against Sunderland but Carragher does not think the Dutchman’s position is untenable.
“Liverpool are different from almost every club in European football, where the manager is the king, the managers get time,” Carragher said.
“Liverpool have never sacked a manager who's won the league. Never, in history. After a few years they've gone, they've resigned.
“I've always been in the camp of you stick with the manager, because I'm angry with the players, I'm really angry with the players. But it does get to a stage with any manager at any club where I always use this word, untenable, where it almost feels like it can't go on any longer.
“I'm not quite there yet personally, in terms of the manager, but I know a lot of supporters will be.”
Arne Slot responds to Liverpool sack speculation after ‘shock’ of worst run for 70 years
Liverpool ‘past being angry’ as Slot fights for his future after latest defeat
Hugo Ekitike injury update as Liverpool star risks missing must-win game
Steven Gerrard rejects Liverpool ‘crisis’ but warns ‘terrible run’ could continue
