"Fake Dawn"
The trip to Anfield this weekend is seen as a crucial turning point for manager Arne Slot and his team. The "Reds" are in their most serious crisis in years, especially as they face the risk of losing five consecutive Premier League matches – something unprecedented in the club's history.
Mohamed Salah shoulders the heavy responsibility of scoring goals for Liverpool (Photo: AP)
The resounding 5-0 victory against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League seemed to have ushered in a new beginning, but it appears to have been a "false dawn." Immediately afterwards, Liverpool suffered consecutive defeats against Brentford in the domestic league and Crystal Palace in the League Cup, casting a gloomy atmosphere over Merseyside. As the reigning champions, Liverpool now sit only 7th, 7 points behind leaders Arsenal, and are gradually losing the confidence of their fans.
Conversely, Aston Villa, under manager Unai Emery, is enjoying a brilliant run of form. After a shaky start, "The Villans" have won all five of their most recent matches, including a 1-0 victory over Manchester City. Under Emery, Aston Villa plays with cohesion, discipline, and resilience, a stark contrast to Liverpool's decline. However, Villa also carries a significant jinx: they have lost all 11 of their most recent away games against reigning Premier League champions and haven't won at Anfield in over 10 years.
Rediscover your killer instinct.
All eyes remain on Mohamed Salah – Liverpool's greatest icon in the modern era, but currently experiencing a rare slump. The Egyptian star has gone six consecutive league matches without scoring, his longest goalless streak since joining "The Kop". Not only is he lacking goals, but Salah is also being criticized for his lack of willpower, lack of dynamism, and, most importantly, for losing the game-changing ability that was once his trademark.
Coach Slot believes the problem lies not only with Salah but with the entire attacking system lacking cohesion. However, public opinion in England is beginning to question whether the 33-year-old star still has the desire and fitness to continue carrying Liverpool's attack.
Salah now has 275 goals and assists for the club – just one assist away from Wayne Rooney's Premier League record, but that seems like an unattainable milestone given his ongoing goal drought.
Liverpool are likely to welcome back Ryan Gravenberch, while Alisson, Frimpong and Leoni remain absent. On the other side, Aston Villa are without Emiliano Buendia and Tielemans due to injury, but the consistent form of Watkins, McGinn and Matty Cash still makes them a significant threat.
Against a resurgent opponent, Liverpool must rediscover their attacking identity if they want to avoid an escalating crisis. A draw might be enough to halt their losing streak at home, but they want three points. What fans are most eagerly awaiting is Salah rediscovering his killer instinct – a quality that could save the Merseyside team's entire season. Prediction: Liverpool 2-2 Aston Villa.
If Chelsea beat Tottenham in the early match, Liverpool will for the first time fall behind all five members of the "Big Six" despite being the reigning champions!
Source: https://nld.com.vn/ap-luc-tren-vai-salah-196251031204737247.htm
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