Leboeuf Questions Salah’s Form as Liverpool Star Faces Rare Dip in Performance
Former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf has sparked debate among football fans after claiming that Mohamed Salah’s talent appears to have faded amid a challenging run of form for the Liverpool forward.
Salah, who has been a defining figure at Anfield since his move from AS Roma in 2017, has built an extraordinary legacy with the Reds — scoring 251 goals and providing 120 assists in 427 appearances across competitions. However, this season has presented a different narrative. The Egyptian has managed just six goals and seven assists in 26 games, a noticeable drop from the remarkable numbers he produced last campaign.
Speaking on ESPN, Leboeuf expressed concern about the winger’s current performances, suggesting that Salah looks less sharp and more awkward on the pitch compared to his usual high standards. His comments come despite Salah recently finding the net in Liverpool’s narrow 1–0 Premier League victory over Sunderland — his first league goal since November.
The contrast with last season is striking. Under Arne Slot’s management, Salah played a crucial role in Liverpool’s title-winning campaign, contributing 34 goals and 23 assists in 52 matches, including 29 goals and 18 assists in the league alone. Such consistency had cemented his status as one of the most reliable forwards in modern football.
From an opinion standpoint, Leboeuf’s criticism may feel harsh, but it also reflects the reality of elite football — where even small dips in form can quickly reshape public perception. Salah’s influence at Liverpool has never been solely about scoring; his movement, leadership, and ability to create space for teammates have often gone beyond statistics. A quieter period does not necessarily mean a loss of talent, but perhaps a phase of tactical adjustment or physical fatigue after years of intense performances.
It is also worth noting that great players are often judged by their own extraordinary standards. When Salah scores fewer goals, it becomes headline news precisely because he has spent years redefining consistency. For Liverpool supporters, the bigger question may not be whether his talent has disappeared, but how the team can evolve to help him rediscover his rhythm.
Football history is filled with moments when legendary players faced doubts, only to respond with renewed brilliance. If anything, Salah’s career suggests resilience rather than decline. And while opinions like Leboeuf’s will continue to fuel discussion, many fans will be watching closely — not to see the end of an era, but perhaps the beginning of another comeback chapter for one of Liverpool’s modern icons.
