Jamie Carragher Urges Liverpool to Rethink Mohamed Salah's Starting Role

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes Mohamed Salah should no longer be a guaranteed starter for the team, citing his current goal drought and suggesting that Arne Slot should consider alternative options.

By Chris Posiano

October 20, 2025 at 5:20 AM

8,335 views

Renowned football pundit Jamie Carragher has sparked debate by suggesting that Mohamed Salah should no longer be an automatic starter for Liverpool. The 33-year-old forward has endured a seven-match goal drought in the Premier League without scoring a non-penalty goal, his longest such run since joining the Reds.

In Liverpool's recent 2-1 defeat to Manchester United, Salah was one of the team's worst performers, missing two significant scoring opportunities. Carragher believes that it's time for Liverpool manager Arne Slot to reassess how he utilizes Salah, who signed a new two-year deal last season.

"I think we're at that stage now where Mo Salah shouldn't be a guaranteed starter every week," Carragher told The Gary Neville Podcast. "I do think this is a real conundrum for the manager going forward."

Carragher drew comparisons with Virgil van Dijk, suggesting that Salah should not be treated like a player who is always guaranteed a starting spot. Instead, he recommends that Slot consider resting Salah for certain away games, particularly those in the Champions League and Premier League, where Liverpool may face more defensive-minded opponents.

"Liverpool have got two away games - in the Champions League at Frankfurt and then they go to Brentford. I don't think Salah should start both of those games," Carragher said. "He should always start at Anfield because Liverpool will be on top, around the edge of the box and more often than not he scores in those situations today."

Carragher also suggested that Liverpool should build their team around newer signings Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, who were acquired for a combined £225m in the summer transfer window. He praised Jeremie Frimpong, who replaced Salah in the match against Manchester United, as a potential alternative on the wing.

"These things have got to start coming into the manager's head," Carragher said. "Maybe [he needs] to have a little look at Frimpong in an away game, who can maybe help the full-back back a little bit more defensively, and give you a little bit of pace on the outside, as we saw when he came on."