Mohamed Salah’s Selfish Streak Is Disrupting Liverpool: How One Player’s Reluctance to Pass Is Frustrating Teammates, Undermining Wirtz, and Jeopardizing the Reds’ Comeback

A Self-Centered Salah Is Harming Both Wirtz and Liverpool

The erratic performance of Liverpool this season can be attributed to several factors—but none is as evident as the increasingly egotistical style of play exhibited by their star, Mohamed Salah. If he prioritized the team over personal accolades, Liverpool might not be facing their current difficulties.

Wirtz Still Can’t Make an Impact — And Salah Is Contributing to the Issue.

Salah had a disappointing night at the Etihad Stadium during Liverpool’s 0-3 loss to Manchester City. Not only did The Reds fall behind in the title race, but their key player also failed to leave a significant mark—largely neutralized by a relatively obscure opponent, 19-year-old right-back Nico O’Reilly.

This marked the first occasion since July 2020 that Salah started against Manchester City in the Premier League without scoring or assisting, ending a streak of nine consecutive matches where he contributed directly to a goal against Pep Guardiola’s team.

However, the statistics reveal only part of the issue—the more pressing concern is Salah’s attitude and increasing selfishness on the field. While he still showcases individual brilliance with his dribbling and occasional breakthroughs, he often frustrates his teammates by opting for solo runs instead of engaging in smart link-up play.

A significant moment occurred in the 80th minute: Salah raced down the right side, had the opportunity to pass the ball to Florian Wirtz, who was in a prime position in front of goal—but instead attempted a difficult shot from a tight angle that deflected off a defender, wasting Liverpool’s best chance to get back into the match.

This has become a pattern. On October 23 during the Frankfurt game, he again opted for a low-percentage shot instead of passing to Wirtz, who expressed his frustration by gesturing angrily at his senior.

In the midweek encounter against Real Madrid, the same situation unfolded: Wirtz appeared poised to take advantage of an open position, but Salah opted to shoot instead.

Repeatedly, Salah has overlooked straightforward team plays, prioritizing personal accolades. The result? Missed opportunities and a player like Wirtz—who could have easily scored 3-4 goals this season—left frustrated.

This has repercussions for Liverpool—and for Salah himself.

Manager Pep Guardiola acknowledged after the game: “Salah has been our nightmare for years. Tonight, we had to assign three players to monitor him every time he received the ball during build-up.”

This serves as both a compliment and a caution. It indicates that while Salah continues to be a source of fear, he seems unable to adjust now that opponents are concentrating on him so intensely.

He continues to operate in familiar patterns—charging at three defenders instead of collaborating with midfielders—leading to a young defender like O’Reilly managing to keep him subdued throughout the match.

Former star Wayne Rooney on BBC was blunt: “Salah is here to score and create, but in crucial matches, he must also drop back and assist. He left Bradley under significant pressure—Salah needed to back up his teammate more.”

Rooney’s observation extends beyond just defense—it’s a wider critique of team cohesion. When a forward declines to share the burden, the entire structure falters.

Once a representation of Liverpool’s tireless work ethic and contribution, Salah now seems preoccupied with reclaiming personal headlines.

New manager Arne Slot is attempting to reconstruct Liverpool with a more balanced approach, where every player contributes to the system.

However, Salah is hindering that effort. By refusing to connect effectively, Wirtz is constrained; when he won’t track back, full-back Conor Bradley becomes isolated; and when possession is lost, Liverpool’s defense quickly becomes exposed.

Data from Squawka indicates that Salah is currently taking fewer shots than teammates such as Cody Gakpo, Nicolas Ekitike, or Dominik Szoboszlai, and his touches within the box have significantly decreased.

He continues to be a prominent figure, yet his impact within Liverpool is diminishing—not because of age, but due to his self-imposed isolation from the team.

This decline might be short-lived. He could still be adjusting to Slot’s new approach. However, if he does not adapt—if he fails to learn the importance of sharing and trusting his teammates—he may find that goals and trophies start to elude him.

In a club that is in need of renewal, the most concerning issue is not merely a player underperforming—it’s the erosion of collective identity and offensive potency.

Salah, who was once the epitome of explosive performance for Liverpool, now confronts his toughest test: embracing humility to reclaim his former greatness.

For if his current style of play persists, it could be Salah himself—not a vulnerable defense or tactical changes—who leads Liverpool away from the identity and attacking prowess that once instilled fear in the Premier League.