One-time Liverpool star Phil Babb has this evening revealed his opinion that, on current form, even ‘average centre-halves’ would not be worried by the prospect of facing Mohamed Salah.
Everton 0-0 Liverpool
The latest edition of the Merseyside derby took place at Goodison Park yesterday evening.
Ahead of the clash, visitors Liverpool had seen a frustrating recent run of 3 draws from their last 5 outings allow Manchester City firmly back into the Premier League title race.
And the struggles of the Merseyside giants continued at Goodison, as a stout defensive showing from Everton eventually saw the two sides forced to make do with a point apiece.
Mohamed Salah had the best chance of the clash just before the half-hour mark, but the Egyptian’s effort in a 1-on-1 showdown with Jordan Pickford was well saved by the latter.
Pickford stays big, Salah doesn’t hit the back of the net.
Everton 0-0 Liverpool#EVELIV #Everton #Liverpool #OptusSport pic.twitter.com/DAnOb71bVJ
— Optus Sport (@OptusSport) March 3, 2019
The second-half saw little change in terms of clear-cut chances, with Salah’s wastefulness in front of goal having seen the Liverpool attacker spurn a couple of further promising opportunities.
As such, when all was said and done, Everton stood firm, leaving Manchester City a point clear of Liverpool atop the Premier League table.
Salah’s struggles
As outlined above, amid the latest in a string of underwhelming performances from Jurgen Klopp’s Reds yesterday evening, none of Liverpool’s stars disappointed more-so than Mo Salah.
The former Roma man, who has looked some way short of his scintillating best over recent weeks, once again appeared to be lacking in confidence in front of goal, with his finished product having left a lot to be desired.
Mohamed Salah has failed to score in three consecutive Premier League games for the first time since joining Liverpool:
❌ vs. Man Utd
❌ vs. Watford
❌ vs. EvertonHe had his fair share of chances today… pic.twitter.com/GDq7LveohK
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) March 3, 2019
‘Quite easy to mark’
And one former Liverpool star has this evening discussed the poor run of form being endured by the Merseysiders’ attacking talisman, revealing his opinion that Salah, as things stand, would cause few problems for ‘some of the average centre-halves in the Premier League’.
Speaking in an interview with Sky Sports, former stopper Phil Babb, who lined out at Anfield from 1994 to 2000, explained:
‘The fact your talisman is not performing well can have an effect on the rest of the squad.’
‘He’s had chances but doesn’t seem to have the confidence in front of goal at the moment.’
‘He’s been playing through the middle and he doesn’t really know that role too well.’
‘He’s been quite easy to mark by some of the average centre-halves in the Premier League.’
Everton ballboy’s dad explains what happened with Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp
Lose to Bayern Munich & Liverpool can beat Man City – Gary Neville