As bad as Salah: Slot must axe 5/10 Liverpool dud who lost 71% duels
da fazobetai： Liverpool claimed a hard-fought 1-0 win over local rivals Everton last night, moving themselves one step closer to claiming the Premier League title in Arne Slot’s first campaign.
da esport bet： Diogo Jota’s second-half strike claimed all three points for the Reds, handing them a 12-point advantage over second-placed Arsenal with just eight games remaining.
Controversy struck in the first half with James Tarkowski only receiving a yellow card for an awful tackle on Alexis Mac Allister which was described as a “leg breaker” by Gary Neville.
It wasn’t a vintage display from Slot’s men, but ultimately, it was what was needed after the previous Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park back in February.
However, that being said, numerous players failed to deliver against the Toffees, potentially putting their starting role at risk ahead of the weekend’s clash.
Liverpool’s poor performers against Everton
Virgil van Dijk has been pivotal in Liverpool’s success over the last few months but struggled against the club’s local rivals last night in one of his worst displays of the campaign.
The Dutchman made a mistake in the first half which allowed opposition forward Beto to get one-on-one, with the post bailing the centre-back from an embarrassing mistake.
As for the reliable Mohamed Salah, the winger endured a very quiet night compared to his other outings this season, often with the Egyptian unable to provide the magic he has so often this season.
He lost 11 duels during the encounter – the most of any player in the match – whilst also missing a big chance in front of goal and failing to complete a single dribble of the five he attempted.
However, despite the showings of the aforementioned duo, one other starter failed to deliver, with the manager needing to take action before Sunday’s trip to Fulham.
The Liverpool player who needs to be dropped by Slot
This Premier League season has undoubtedly been a successful one for Liverpool, with the transition phase under Slot being seamless – enabling them to achieve their success.
The Dutchman and his side have excelled beyond all imagination, but that doesn’t mean that numerous players have failed to deliver in recent matches.
Dominik Szoboszlai is one player who’s hit the heights in recent months, notching 12 combined goals and assists across all competitions in 2024/25 to date.
However, his showing last night was certainly one to forget, unable to reach the expectations he’s set for himself given his showings under Slot at Anfield.
The Hungarian international featured for the entirety of the contest, but only managed to win two of the seven duels he entered – often being dominated at the heart of the side.
He managed a total of 67 touches, losing the ball 12 times, and giving the ball away once every five times he had possession – highlighting his wasteful nature when having the opportunity to impress.
Szoboslai’s stats for Liverpool against Everton
Statistics
Tally
Minutes played
90
Touches
67
Possession lost
12x
Duels won
2/7
Shots taken
1
Crosses completed
0/2
Dribbles completed
0
Stats via SofaScore
Szoboszlai also only managed one effort on goal and failed to complete any of the crosses he attempted, showcasing the lack of impact he had in the final third.
As a result of his showing on Merseyside, the midfielder was handed a measly 5/10 match rating by The Express’ Alex Turk – further showcasing how poor he was against the Toffees.
Given his display, Slot must drop him from his starting eleven, handing another player the opportunity to showcase their talents in the first-team.
The Reds will look to move one step closer to title glory at the weekend, but if they are to claim another victory, the manager will have a brutal call to make with his selection.
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