The Egyptian has gone seven games without finding the target and a former Reds striker is looking for him to focus on getting the basics right again
Mohamed Salah is “trying a little bit too hard”, says Emile Heskey, with the Liverpool forward reluctant to lose a standing alongside the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Egyptian positioned himself among the global elite in 2017-18 as he plundered 44 goals during a stunning debut season at Anfield.
More of the same was expected in his second, with Jurgen Klopp looking to a fearsome attacking unit to lead challenges for major silverware.
Liverpool are in contention for Premier League and Champions League prizes, with Salah netting 20 times along the way, but their Golden Boot winner has gone seven games without finding the target.
That represents the worst run of his time on Merseyside, leading to suggestions that the 26-year-old has become selfish in his bid to snap out of a slump.
Former Liverpool striker Heskey believes that is part of the problem, telling Sky Sports: “He's still got 17 goals [in the Premier League], so he's not having that bad a season but he's probably just trying a little bit too hard.
"He's looking at the season before when he was scoring all these goals, confidence was high, things were ricocheting then going in.
"He's not getting that luck now, but he still wants to get the goals and everyone is still looking at him as that go-to guy for the goals.
"There's times when he should be passing the ball but he's wanting to score himself. That is the danger.
"When you're going through that patch you need the balance. You need to know when to pass the ball, when to take the shot.
"You've got to remember we were talking of him last season in the same vein as Messi and Ronaldo, so he's probably got that in his head as well, so he wants to be scoring the goals like they are."
While Salah has become stuck in a rut, fellow frontman Sadio Mane has hit a rich vein of form which has delivered 11 goals in as many games.
Heskey added on the Senegalese star: "It's a blessing for Liverpool isn't it, that they have someone of his stature - someone of his ability - to step in to the plate where Salah has failed to produce.
"He's such a dynamic, quick player.
"If you look at the season before, he went through little spells where he was scoring three goals, four goals, but now he seems to be making it more consistent."
danny7_ida
134
Trying to be like messi and ronaldo is lime trying to be a god when your human. You can't? The records, the goals, the assists, the magical moments can't be done by salah. Salah is good but I don't think anyone in this particular era can reach the heights of messi and ronaldo it is impossible. They are out of this world
kucadilsyz
83
Well you can be like Ronaldo he has only 19goals this season. But you see that guy Leo .... don’t go there. It’s better you start passing the ball You your mates and get a trophy for compensation than going for struggles with the golden boot with Leo you just can’t be compared to him.
Chelasani
70
that's the main point.... he cannot turn a big match on his own as Cristiano and messi. he is playing more individualistic in this season... he is trying too hard for goals... even if his team mates are in good position for goal he is going on his own. hope he realises that and play for the team
specialmadrid
70
I have seen it countless times,once you start getting compared to these two legends it gets into your head and you get exposed. performance levels greatly drops.Sala,Hazard,Neymar,Griezmann all have tasted the poison of getting compared with Mess and Cr7
Mosanya
66
Messi and Ronaldo have been scoring goals year in year out, they need some respect, of course Salah is having a great season, but hasn't reached the level of Messi and Ronaldo, but you can't compare him to those guys who share 10 balon dor
Subaeiyz
44
Messi and Ronaldo are football icons or legend but they are still human , facts showed Messi didn’t score a goal as well for 523 min in 2015 , as well as Ronaldo 452 min in 2016 as I remember , now about Salah number this season for the people who say his selfish he have 8 assist which bring him to the top 5 in pl and first in Liverpool , Mane have one assist in 31 matches , as well as both have 17 goals , so of mane scored 9 goals in the last 9 matches where he was on the other 22 matches ?? I agree Salah have poor performance lately but give the guy break , last thing there is two defenders on Salah every match while the performance of the Liverpool field is poor as well ? Who create chances and who is the play maker in this team ?