Liverpool Q&A: Should Chiesa start and are Reds missing sold players?
- Published
Our senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel has been answering your questions on Liverpool. In this part, he focuses on the form of Mohamed Salah and whether the Reds are missing Diaz and Alexander-Arnold.
Sam asked: Why aren't we playing Federico Chiesa instead of Mohamed Salah? Salah has been poor at the start of the season while Chiesa has made an impact in the couple of games he's played.
Sami: The simple answer to that is this Mohamed Salah – a player able to win you a football match in the blink of an eye.
Chiesa has certainly had an impact, but dropping Salah is not the answer in my opinion. Furthermore, Salah has scored three goals so far this season - only Hugo Ekitike (five) has scored more.
Of course, we judge Salah to a higher standard given his persistent brilliance over the years. But we would be silly to write the Egyptian off yet.
Lucas asked: Do you think that with the benefit of hindsight, Liverpool fans did not give Luis Diaz and Trent Alexander-Arnold enough respect? Without them, the defence is weaker and the attack more predictable and less tenacious. Were they key parts of what made the team successful?
Sami: It is clear that both players were crucial to Arne Slot's plans last season.
Alexander-Arnold's eye for a pass and ability to unlock defences from wide areas is something Liverpool are lacking as it stands.
The issues the team are having at right-back provide another clear indicator of just how sorely Alexander-Arnold is missed. Likewise, Diaz's ability to run with the ball, his street-fighting style, tenacity and eye for goal were traits Liverpool certainly benefited from last season.
With that in mind, you would imagine most fans would appreciate and respect the pair's contribution – particularly Alexander-Arnold, who had spent his entire career at Anfield prior to joining Real Madrid.
They were clearly crucial to Liverpool's success last term. Fans who do not respect them are watching a different game to me.