“One goal changes everything” — Allardyce explains Salah’s slump

Former England manager Sam Allardyce has dismissed suggestions that Mohamed Salah’s dip in form is down to physical decline, insisting the Liverpool forward’s struggles are rooted in mindset rather than fitness.

Salah, 33, has come under scrutiny this season after a noticeable drop in goal contributions, prompting questions about whether the Egyptian’s explosive pace and sharpness have begun to wane. Yet Allardyce, speaking on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, argued the data still shows Salah covering ground and finding the net, albeit at a reduced rate.

“Players of Mo’s calibre can hit a spell where the confidence just dips,” Allardyce said. “The legs are still willing, the numbers are still respectable, but that ruthless edge—timing the run, picking the corner, backing yourself—takes a knock. One goal changes everything; suddenly the net ripples, shoulders lift and the swagger returns.”

Allardyce believes external factors have played a part. Egypt’s fourth-place finish at the Africa Cup of Nations, where Salah had hoped to deliver a first continental crown for his country, left a lingering disappointment that can weigh heavily on an elite athlete. “When you fall short of a major trophy with your nation, it can sit in the back of your mind,” he added. “You try to park it, but subconsciously it can erode that extra bit of conviction.”

Despite the scrutiny, Allardyce was quick to underline Salah’s enduring value to Liverpool. Over multiple seasons the winger has produced consistent goal returns and remains central to the club’s attacking blueprint. “He’s been a guarantee for so long,” Allardyce noted. “A short blip doesn’t erase the years of elite production. The quality is still there; it just needs unlocking with a single moment.”

Liverpool will hope that moment arrives soon, resetting Salah’s confidence and reigniting the attacking spark that has become synonymous with his name.