Emile Heskey has criticized Arne Slot for not taking Mohamed Salah off against Newcastle United in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final.
The Liverpool forward has enjoyed a superb campaign and has already equaled the record for the most goal involvements in a single season – with nine games remaining. He could set new records for the highest number for goals and assists respectively and will likely collect a second Premier League winners’ medal in May.
But Salah’s form has dipped in recent weeks and he is yet to score from open play or provide an assist in his last five games. That includes the Carabao Cup loss on Sunday at Wembley where, for the first time in his Liverpool career, Salah failed to create a chance or manage a shot in a 90-minute display.
It comes on the back of an ineffective performance against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League five days prior. With his form declining, Heskey feels Slot should have made the bold decision to replace the Egyptian at the weekend.
“Salah didn’t play well against PSG or Newcastle. In reality, Arne Slot probably should have taken him off,” the former Liverpool striker told BetVictor Casino.
“They could see that he wasn’t playing well at all but it’s a big call to look elsewhere or for the manager to pull him out. Do you keep giving him the ball and try and get him into the game or look to the bench?
“He probably should have come off, but no-one in the squad has goals like Salah so it would have been a big call. You could put it down to fatigue, both mentally and physically, the games come thick and fast, and it can be tough – it can really take its toll. In the PSG game, I will say that Nuno Mendes was outstanding, he kept Salah quiet and that was the reason he couldn’t really get into the game – he was unreal.”
(Image: 2025 Marc Atkins)
Meanwhile, Salah’s odds of winning the Ballon d’Or have slipped drastically in just a week and he has fallen behind Barcelona’s Raphinha as the favorite to win the individual award.
“Going out of the Champions League and losing in the final of the Carabao Cup doesn’t help his chances of winning this year’s Ballon d’Or,” said Heskey. “It’s harsh to say his chances have decreased because of two performances, he’s been at a brilliant level all season and Liverpool look set to win the league.
“However, when you’re playing at the highest level, the fans want the best 24/7 as well as the media and the club require the best all the time, and he hasn’t shown that in the past week.”
