Mohamed Salah: Liverpool star backed to return ‘angrier’ after benching for big UEFA Champions League win in Eintracht Frankfurt

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Mohamed Salah has been backed to return “angrier” and with a point to prove, after being dropped from the starting XI by Arne Slot for Liverpool’s big UEFA Champions League win over Eintracht Frankfurt. The Egyptian has struggled for form of late after reaching incredible heights last season, but it would be no surprise to see him rediscover his best sooner rather than later.

Highlights: Liverpool rout Frankfurt as Wirtz shines

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Owen Hargreaves has backed Mohamed Salah to recover from his current blip and thinks he could even be better after being dropped to the bench for Liverpool’s 5-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in the UEFA Champions League.

Most of the talk in the build-up to the game was centred on Salah’s demotion from the starting line-up, as Arne Slot opted for a front three of Cody Gakpo, Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike.

It caught the attention of many, but it also was not a total surprise given the Egyptian’s recent struggles in front of goal.

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After an incredible 2024/25 season, Salah’s slight dip in form has coincided with four losses in a row for Liverpool.

But Hargreaves still thinks the 33-year-old has plenty left in the tank and plenty left to offer the reigning Premier League champions.

"He’s one of the best," Hargreaves said. "Maybe he’s had a little rest today, but that won’t last for long. He’ll be back in on the weekend.

"The season he had [last season] was one of the best I’ve ever seen in terms of goals and assists.

McManaman explains why Ekitike is Liverpool's 'best forward'

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"He’s still scored a couple in the Premier League this season. It’s not like he hasn’t scored at all. And he could have had a couple against Manchester United.

"I think to make him a little bit angrier and push him is not a terrible thing. And they have options now to rotate in case anyone does have a dry spell."

Salah did come on in the 74th minute for Ekitike and registered the most shots on goal of anyone, despite his limited game-time.

He also found the target twice but in one of those instances, he opted to shoot from a tight angle rather than square it to Florian Wirtz, who was in position for a simple tap-in.

It was perhaps a sign of how desperate he is to end his drought and rediscover his form of last season.

With a potential injury to Alexander Isak, Salah could be in line for an immediate return to the starting XI when Liverpool travel to Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday night, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

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