Liverpool Star Faces Harsh Criticism After ‘Invisible’ Performance in Community Shield, Losing Every Duel
For the second time this year, Liverpool left Wembley stadium with a sense of frustration and disappointment following a tough defeat.
Although their showing in the Community Shield marked a slight step up from their uninspiring performance in the Carabao Cup final back in March, Liverpool still struggled to maintain control during the match. Twice they lost their advantage after conceding debut goals from Crystal Palace’s Hugo Ekitike and Jeremie Frimpong. The game ultimately ended in a nerve-wracking penalty shootout, where Palace triumphed 3-2, adding this trophy to their FA Cup success earlier in May.
While this result carries no direct consequences for Arne Slot’s Liverpool side in the long run, the loss is bound to sting. Missing the chance to claim early-season silverware and build momentum heading into the Premier League campaign is a bitter pill for both players and coaching staff to swallow.
Mo Salah’s Struggles Put Under Spotlight
Among the Liverpool squad, Mohamed Salah’s performance drew the sharpest criticism. Sky Sports’ reporter James Savundra described Salah’s display as “anonymous,” raising red flags about the Egyptian’s readiness for the season ahead.
Salah took the crucial first penalty during the shootout in front of a passionate home crowd, but unfortunately, his shot flew well over the crossbar—mirroring a similar miss from a friendly against Athletic Bilbao just days earlier. This unfortunate pattern highlights some worrying signs about his current form.
At 33 years old, Salah was far from his best on the pitch at Wembley. According to Sofascore, he was Liverpool’s lowest-rated player with a score of just 4.7. His stats painted a grim picture: he lost every single one of the six duels he contested, completed only 13 out of 20 attempted passes, failed to land a single successful dribble or key pass, and gave the ball away 12 times. His only positive moment was a shot on target that was well saved by Crystal Palace’s goalkeeper, Dean Henderson.
Liverpool Echo’s Ian Doyle gave Salah a middling 6/10 in his post-match analysis, noting that Salah seemed to “flit in and out of the game” as he attempted to forge a partnership on the right flank, especially with Jeremie Frimpong.
Looking Ahead
Despite the disappointing outing, there remains hope among Liverpool fans and analysts that Salah will rediscover his lethal touch once the Premier League campaign kicks off—the competition that truly matters for Liverpool as reigning champions.
The Community Shield loss may serve as a wake-up call for both Salah and the team, highlighting areas that require urgent improvement, especially in terms of sharpness, creativity, and composure under pressure.
Related Liverpool Headlines
- Jamie Carragher pinpoints a key weakness in Liverpool’s setup and critiques new signings after the Community Shield loss.
- Virgil van Dijk’s firm stance on transfer targets following Liverpool’s defeat to Crystal Palace.
- Discussions around potential squad adjustments as Arne Slot seeks to address tactical and personnel challenges revealed in the match.
- Liverpool supporters voicing concerns over Salah’s form and the team’s readiness for the upcoming Premier League season.
