Ian Wright explains how Liverpool’s new tactics have left Mohamed Salah “on the sidelines” this season.

Arsenal legend Ian Wright has shared his view on why Mohamed Salah’s performances for Liverpool have dropped so drastically this season.

The Egyptian winger, who was unstoppable last term and played a key role in Liverpool’s Premier League title triumph, has struggled to replicate that form. Wright believes the absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold has been central to this decline.

According to Wright, Alexander-Arnold’s overlapping runs and pinpoint deliveries were instrumental to Salah’s impact on the right wing. Without that dynamic partnership, Salah’s influence has diminished significantly.

Speaking on The Overlap, Wright remarked that Salah now “looks like a passenger” because he no longer has a player like Trent to pick him out quickly in attacking areas.

“If you don’t have someone like Trent to release him when he’s free, to hit him early, he ends up looking exactly as he does now,” Wright explained. “They’ve taken that away from him. Without that early ball or that perfect pass from Trent, he can’t go and do what he does best.”

The onus now falls on manager Arne Slot to help Salah rediscover his rhythm in a reshaped Liverpool setup. With Alexander-Arnold sidelined and several new arrivals still adapting, the team’s cohesion has clearly suffered. At 33, Salah may also be contending with the natural effects of age, leaving questions about whether he can regain the ruthless edge that once made him one of the Premier League’s most feared attackers.