Liverpool's Triumph Overshadowed by Player Struggles
Liverpool secured a commanding 5-2 victory against West Ham United on Saturday, marking their third consecutive Premier League win for the first time since December. This impressive result also represented the first occasion the Reds have netted five goals in a league match since their title-winning campaign last season, when they defeated Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 at Anfield.
While the performance from Arne Slot's side was not entirely flawless, the three points significantly bolstered Liverpool's prospects for Champions League qualification. Key players such as Hugo Ekitike and Cody Gakpo found their way back onto the scoresheet during the match.
Ekitike's Candid Admission
Despite his contributions, Hugo Ekitike remains far from content with his personal achievements. The French striker, who has become the first Liverpool player since Luis Suarez to score 11 league goals in his inaugural full season with the club, expressed clear dissatisfaction.
In an interview with LFCTV, the 23-year-old admitted, "To be honest, I could score more. I’m not that happy. But it’s not even goals, it’s assists as well. Today I think I gave one or two assists, I don’t remember. As long as I can help the team and be involved, that’s the most important. I want to win, so personally I’m happy, but I’m looking forward to the upcoming games."
Ekitike's tally now stands at 16 goals and six assists across all competitions this season, yet he believes there is considerable room for improvement in his output.
Brutal Verdict on Mohamed Salah
In stark contrast, Mohamed Salah's challenging season continues unabated. The Egyptian winger has managed only four goals and six assists in the Premier League so far, a dramatic decline from his 29-goal haul in the previous league campaign.
Salah's failure to score against West Ham extended his goal drought to 10 consecutive league games, the longest such streak of his Liverpool career. His subdued form has sparked intense debate about his future at the highest level of football.
Former Liverpool winger Mark Kennedy delivered a particularly harsh assessment on talkSPORT, branding Salah "yesterday's man." Kennedy elaborated, "I am going to be controversial here. When I look at Salah's stats last year, they're absolutely phenomenal. But every time I watch Liverpool, I never liked Salah. I think his ball retention is really, really poor. He gives up a lot of possession, and I've been really vocal when I speak to people about Salah this year. I am a Liverpool fan, I am a big fan of Salah, I think he's amazing, but I think he's yesterday's man. I am not surprised by his performances this year because I've actually been saying it for a long time."
This criticism underscores the growing concerns surrounding Salah's impact, as Liverpool strive to recapture the winning mentality that propelled them to success last season.
