A cliff-like decline! Salah actually scored 0 shots in 9 games and 1 goal may lose the European Golden Boot!

1. Sluggish data: Fall from the altar to the bottom

On May 11, Anfield Stadium witnessed a suffocating draw. Liverpool was tied 2-2 by Arsenal while leading 2-0, continuing the embarrassing record of losing to the Gunners for three consecutive seasons. However, what is more heartbreaking than the team's record is Salah's shocking performance - the Egyptian pharaoh actually handed over a bleak data of 0 shots in the last 100 minutes of playing time. This data not only set a new low in his personal career, but also shocked fans: the super shooter who once had 44 goals in a single season is now in a three-month goal drought.

Salah has scored only one goal in nine consecutive games in club events since March this year, and the only goal is the icing on the cake when the team beat Tottenham 5-1. Before that, he averaged 1.5 goals per game, and now this number has been "pulled down" to 1.12. What is even more despairing is that in the last two games, Salah has only completed one shot in total. If this state continues, he will not only miss the first feat of 30 goals + 20 assists in a single season in Premier League history, but may even fall completely behind in the competition for the European Golden Boot.

2. Golden Boot Crisis: The emergence of Zhekelais's sudden force

The European Golden Boot, which once seemed to be at hand, is now sliding down from Salah's fingertips. Swedish striker Tzekelish topped the Golden Boot with 38 goals with seven goals in two games in late April, while Salah was just one point behind with 28 goals and Mbappe followed closely with 27 goals. Judging from the remaining schedule, Dzekelish has only 1 round of league left, Mbappe has 3 games left, and Salah needs to score at least 3 goals in the last 2 games to ensure a turnaround. This cruel reality cast a heavy shadow on the Egyptian pharaoh's dream of Golden Boots.

What is even more worrying is that Salah's competitors are at their peak. Zhekelais's efficiency per game in the Portuguese Super League this season is far superior to Ronaldo's 31 goals record in the Portuguese Super League that year. His all-around performance of 52 goals and 12 assists in 48 games is "despair of heaven". Mbappe is also in a hot state after wearing a hat in the Spanish national derby. By contrast, Salah's recent downturn is particularly harsh – not only has he dropped significantly in his shot count, but his shot conversion rate has also plummeted from 18% at the beginning of the season to less than 8%.

3. Injury shadow: The double blow between the body and the psychology

Injury is undoubtedly an important reason for Salah's decline in form. During the African Cup in January this year, he missed two games of Egypt due to a back strain, and although Egyptian officials confirmed that he had recovered from injury, his form after his return was significantly affected. Data shows that Salah's average breakthroughs per game this season has dropped from 2.9 to 1.8, and the decline in explosive power directly leads to a significant reduction in his success rate when he breaks through one-on-one. What's more serious is that injuries may have a negative impact on his psychology - he missed great opportunities several times against Arsenal, and even had rare hesitation and turnovers in the penalty area.

In addition, Salah's frequent running between the national team and the club has also exacerbated physical energy consumption. He has played seven games for Egypt this season, including three African Cups and four World Cup qualifiers, and this high-density schedule makes it difficult for him to maintain his best form in club events. As the analysis of The Athletic: "When Salah consumes too much energy on the defensive end, his offensive efficiency will drop significantly."

4. Tactical dilemma: The role loss in system change

The tactical adjustment under Slot's coach may also be one of the reasons for Salah's downturn. The Dutch coach adjusted Salah's position from a traditional winger to a "wing-forward midfielder" and asked him to undertake more organizational tasks, which led to his touching area moving from the front of the penalty area to near the midfield. Data shows that although Salah's average touchdowns per game this season has increased from 62 to 71, the number of touchdowns in the penalty area has dropped from 12.3 to 8.7, with a sharp reduction in direct shot opportunities.

In addition, changes in the right-wing tactics also affected Salah's performance. With Arnold leaving the team, Liverpool's creativity in the offensive corridor on the right has declined, and the crossing accuracy and breakthrough ability of young players such as Bradley are not yet enough to support Salah's offensive needs. Slott tried to allow Salah to support through the "pseudo-Nine" tactic, but this adjustment actually limited his offensive freedom - in the game against Chelsea, he only completed one shot in the game and was exhausted on the defensive end most of the time.

5. Historical comparison: Looking back at Salah's career, this cliff-like decline seems particularly abrupt. In 2024, he beat Mbappe and Haaland with 52 goals in the year to become the world's top scorer. In the Champions League match between Liverpool and Lille, he scored six shots in a single game and scored key goals, showing the calmness and efficiency of a top scorer. However, just a year later, his form has taken a sharp turn - so far this season, he has dropped from 4.2 to 3.1 shots per game, and his shooting positive rate has dropped from 52% to 38%.

This contrast is particularly obvious at the tactical level. In the Klopp era, Salah, as the core of the "Three Red Arrows", enjoyed a large number of shooting opportunities brought by high-pressure and wide-border breakthroughs; while Slott's tactical system focused more on ball control and midfield organization, and Salah was forced to transform from a terminator to an offensive initiator, and this role transformation was obviously not yet completely successful. As former Premier League star Andy Townsend said: "The style of high-pressing is more suitable for Salah, and tactical adjustments may put him in trouble.. ”

6. Future Outlook: Where is the road to redemption?

Faced with the two upcoming Premier League finals, Salah needs to score at least 3 goals against Brighton and Crystal Palace to retain hope for the Golden Boot. This goal seems difficult, but not impossible - he scored twice in the 2024 match against Southampton, showing the ability to rebound. In addition, Slott's tactical adjustments may also create more opportunities for him. For example, in the game against Manchester City, Salah opened the first record through corner tactics, proving that set pieces may still be his breakthrough.

For Liverpool, how to balance Salah's offensive and defensive responsibilities is key. Slott said in an interview: "It doesn't seem difficult to both offense and defense against Salah, but we need to create more freedom for him." "This may mean that the Dutch coach will reduce Salah's defensive tasks in the remaining games, allowing him to focus on the end of the offensive third zone. In addition, if Luis Dias and Nunes can activate the wing breakthrough ability and create more crossing opportunities for Salah, Egyptian pharaoh may still stage a counterattack.

Conclusion

When the final whistle sounded at Anfield, Salah stood alone on the court, revealing unwillingness and confusion in his eyes. This former record-maker is now experiencing the darkest moment of his career. The shadow of injuries, tactical adjustments, and the rise of competitors together constitute many obstacles in front of him. However, as he said in the interview: "I always give my all, because this is my style." ”

The competition for the European Golden Boot is still continuing, and Salah's road to redemption has not yet ended. The next two games will not only determine the ownership of his personal honor, but also test the resilience and determination of the 32-year-old veteran. Regardless of the result, this downturn will become an important footnote to his career - it reminds people that even the most dazzling stars need to face the ups and downs of their state and the test of their destiny. The charm of football may lie in this confrontation full of uncertainty, witnessing the rise and rebirth of heroes.