Liverpool have failed to defend their title in this season’s League Cup, losing 2-1 to Newcastle United in the final. The defeat was a bitter blow for Liverpool, especially as they again missed out on a domestic cup title with the Champions League already out. In this game, Egypt forward Salah, despite starting and playing the full game, but the performance is extremely abnormal.
Salah contributed nothing to the Carling Cup final
According to the post-match statistics, Salah did not attempt any shot in the game, nor did he create any offensive opportunities for his teammates. It was the first time he had played a full game for Liverpool. As Liverpool’s star player, Salah’s abnormal performance undoubtedly played a role in the team’s defeat.
A review of Salah’s performance this season
Salah, 32, has played 42 competitive games for Liverpool so far this season, starting 40 of them, with 32 goals and 22 assists. While Salah has shown great athleticism and goal-scoring efficiency in most games, the Carling Cup final was a surprise.
Ramadan impact?
It is worth noting that Salah, a Muslim player, was in Ramadan during the final. During Ramadan, Muslims are required to fast between sunrise and sunset, which may have a certain impact on their physical fitness and athletic status. Although Salah himself has not publicly admitted that Ramadan has had an impact on his performance, this factor certainly provides a possible explanation for his erratic performance.
Liverpool missed out on the title and remains behind Manchester United in the number of domestic cup wins.
With defeat in the Carling Cup final, Liverpool remain behind arch-rivals Manchester United in the number of domestic cup wins. Liverpool have won 18 domestic cups in England so far, while Manchester United are top of the league with 19. The defeat left Liverpool fans disappointed and frustrated and further intensified the pressure on the team to win the title at the end of the season.
To sum up, Salah’s anomalous performance in the Carling Cup final undoubtedly played a role in Liverpool’s defeat. Although Ramadan may be a factor in his form, Liverpool, as a top team, will need to find more ways to win in future games to make up for this season’s regrets.
