Martin Keown destroyed Mohamed Salah on BT Sport in the wake of Liverpool’s 1-1 draw against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on Saturday evening.
The former Arsenal defender claimed the Egyptian forward “doesn’t look the real deal for me” and “doesn’t want to get hurt” following his performance in the absorbing encounter.
Keown questioned whether the dislocated shoulder suffered by Salah in the Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid has had a bigger effect than many imagined on someone “who doesn’t look the same player”.
"Salah doesn't look the real deal, he doesn't want to get hurt."
Martin Keown doesn't think Mohamed Salah is offering Liverpool the same as last season… pic.twitter.com/Qa4aezTw52
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 3, 2018
OPINION
Keown’s verdict on Salah is a controversial one, and many Liverpool fans immediately rubbished it as nonsense. Certainly, the forward has not yet hit the heights of his sensational debut season, although his recent performances have suggested he is close to getting back to his best, and a haul of seven goals and four assists from 15 matches in all competitions is pretty good for an attacking player off his game. Arsenal’s defence kept Salah in check for most of the match, although he was more effective than against Manchester City or Chelsea, and completed more dribbles – four – than any other player in the game. In fact, he could have been a little more selfish at times, and driven at the back line rather than passed to teammates in and around the box. Is his shoulder still bothering him? Mentally, is it a problem he is hiding? Perhaps. Such a possibility should not be dismissed out of hand. Salah still looks like he is operating at 85-90 per cent of his capacity.