A selfish play exposes the truth about Salah.

Mohamed Salah was once a symbol of explosiveness and a burning desire to win at Anfield.

Salah was benched for the match against Frankfurt.

But now, the "Egyptian King" is becoming the biggest problem in Arne Slot's reign - as his ego clashes head-on with the team spirit that Liverpool is building.

When the "King of Egypt" forgets how to play for the team.

Liverpool's 5-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League League Phase on the morning of October 23rd would have been a perfect night – if not for Mohamed Salah's disappointing miss. In the 84th minute, he was presented with a one-on-one opportunity with goalkeeper Michael Zetterer. In the center of the penalty area, Florian Wirtz was unmarked, needing only a gentle pass to score.

But Salah didn't pass. He shot – from a very tight angle, with a terrible choice. The ball was blocked, Wirtz raised his hands in frustration, and the Liverpool coaching bench fell into a chilling silence.

It wasn't just a missed opportunity. It symbolized the conflict between Salah and Liverpool currently – between individual instinct and collective philosophy.

Under Klopp, every attacking move by Liverpool was directed towards Salah. He was the "ultimate weapon," the finishing touch to every combination. But Arne Slot arrived, bringing a different philosophy: his football was based on systems, speed, and teamwork.

In that system, Salah became superfluous – or worse, out of place. He still moved instinctively, still sought to make decisions on his own instead of combining with others, and still believed that every opportunity had to end with a goal of his own.

It's no coincidence that Slot benched him for two consecutive Champions League matches. It wasn't because of his fitness, but because of his mindset. Liverpool are transforming, but Salah isn't.

Salah is losing himself.

After 12 games this season, Salah has only scored 3 goals – a very low number for a player who once struck fear into the hearts of the Premier League. He has lost his scoring touch, his explosive ability, and more importantly, the trust of his teammates.

Commentator Troy Deeney stated bluntly: “That’s the real Salah. He always wants to score first, thinks of himself first. But now, Liverpool need a player who can pass, who can sacrifice. He doesn’t do that.”

Meanwhile, Adrian Durham stressed: “The failure to pass to Wirtz says it all. If this continues, Salah will be on the bench for a long time. Arne Slot doesn’t build a team around one person’s ego.”

That frankness exposed a harsh reality: Salah is no longer the central figure at Anfield.

Wirtz and the opposite mirror

On the other side, Florian Wirtz – Liverpool's most expensive signing in history – is proving his worth in a completely different way. The 22-year-old doesn't need to score to stand out; he passes, moves, assists, and makes his teammates play better.

Two assists against Frankfurt showed just how well Wirtz is grasping the Slot philosophy. He chooses the right pass, the right timing, and most importantly: always puts the team before himself.

That's something Salah once had, but has now lost.

At 33, Salah is entering a phase that every superstar faces: time and ego.

At 33, Salah is entering a phase that every superstar faces: time and ego. He still has the desire, but that desire has now become a burden for a team trying to rediscover its identity.

If he doesn't change, he'll be left behind. Modern football has no place for stars who can only shine alone. And at Liverpool today, where Arne Slot wants to build a balanced and explosive team, Salah is the most out-of-place piece.

Arne Slot doesn't need an "Egyptian King." He needs a warrior who knows how to share the light with his teammates.

This weekend, Liverpool travel to Brentford – a match where Slot will most likely continue to place his trust in Ekitike, Gakpo, Szoboszlai, and Wirtz. Salah may be benched again, and if that happens, it will no longer be a "wake-up call," but a tactical punishment.

From the position of a hero, Salah is now putting himself on the verge of being replaced. There's only one choice - change to adapt, or accept becoming a thing of the past.

Source: https://znews.vn/pha-bong-ich-ky-phoi-bay-su-that-ve-salah-post1596169.html