Liverpool Legend Graeme Souness Labels Mohamed Salah the Primary Catalyst for Club’s Performance Decline

Graeme Souness identifies Mohamed Salah as the main reason for Liverpool’s poor season and urges FSG to sell the star forward this summer.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 21, 2026, 8:53 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Lewis Oldham

A Sharp Decline for a Premier League Icon

The narrative surrounding Liverpool’s indifferent campaign has found a focal point in the fading form of their most prolific modern forward. Graeme Souness, speaking to The Daily Mail, expressed his belief that Mohamed Salah has experienced a sudden and significant drop in effectiveness, rather than a gradual aging process. According to Souness, the 33 year old Egyptian international, who was instrumental in Liverpool’s 20th league title win last season, has "fallen off a cliff" in terms of his physical and technical impact on the pitch.

Statistical Evidence of a Waning Influence

The basis for this critical assessment lies in the raw data of Salah’s current campaign, which shows a marked departure from the elite standards he set over the last seven years. Souness noted that he observed signs of trouble as early as the Community Shield match against Crystal Palace, initially hoping the forward simply needed time to find his rhythm. However, the anticipated improvement never materialized. According to Souness, the decline in Salah’s goal-scoring numbers is the primary factor behind the team's struggles, as the squad has historically relied on him to change games when tactical plans faltered.

The Psychological Impact on the Liverpool Squad

Beyond the individual performance of the star forward, the lack of a "go-to man" has reportedly created a vacuum of leadership and confidence within the dressing room. Souness suggested that when top-tier players fail to stand up and be counted during difficult periods, it spreads a sense of negativity throughout the group. The Liverpool legend highlighted that the inability of senior figures to stabilize the team has been a shock to both the coaching staff and the supporters, particularly given the high expectations following their previous championship success.