Ex-PL boss tears into Jamie Carragher, calling his comments about the Liverpool standout “pathetic.”
Jamie Carragher’s harsh assessment of Liverpool star Mohamed Salah has been branded “disgraceful” by former Premier League boss Sam Allardyce, who launched a fiery criticism of the Sky Sports pundit.
Salah is enduring a rough season, a major drop-off from the brilliant campaign he delivered last year when he helped fire Liverpool to the Premier League title. His poor form has coincided with the team’s wider struggles, leading manager Arne Slot to leave him out of the starting lineup.
The 33-year-old began Sunday’s 2–0 win over West Ham United on the bench and was also a substitute in the 1–1 draw with Sunderland. Although Salah signed a new two-year contract at the end of last season, rumours about his long-term future continue to grow.
Carragher’s Criticism
After the win over West Ham, Carragher spoke on CBS Sports about Liverpool’s declining core:
> “The foundation of Liverpool’s rise in 2018 under Klopp was Alisson, Van Dijk, and Salah. Alisson keeps getting injured, Van Dijk isn’t the same player anymore, and Mo Salah looks like his legs have gone.”
Allardyce Hits Back
Allardyce, who once managed several top Premier League talents, strongly disagreed on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast:
> “Stop it. He should know better. That’s a pathetic thing to say — but he’s good at those, isn’t he?”
He added:
> “His legs haven’t gone. How can someone go from last season’s level, have a summer break, and suddenly his legs are gone? It doesn’t happen overnight.”
Salah racked up an incredible 34 goals and 23 assists in 52 matches last season, but has only five goals and three assists in 19 games this term. Allardyce argued that many Liverpool players are struggling, not just Salah:
> “How does he know? He doesn’t train with him. He just watches from the outside. Salah might be off-form, but so are others. Isak hasn’t played well either — does that mean his legs have gone already?”
Since arriving in 2017, Salah has become a Liverpool icon, winning every major trophy and finishing last season as the Premier League’s Golden Boot winner.
Their History of Tension
This isn’t the first time Carragher has criticised Salah. Earlier this year, he was unhappy with how the winger handled his contract situation, suggesting Salah was “more out than in.” Salah clapped back on social media, writing:
> “I’m starting to think you’re obsessed with me.”
Although the two later reconciled once Salah signed his new contract in April, Carragher has continued to question his performances — with some wondering whether the £400,000-a-week deal has revived the scrutiny.
Could Salah Prove Him Wrong Again?
Carragher famously said players should “leave the game before the game leaves you,” a comment he used to write off Casemiro after a poor display in 2024. But Casemiro went on to prove him wrong under Ruben Amorim, becoming a key figure again.
Likewise, Salah has a history of silencing critics. With his quality, he’s more than capable of returning to the devastating form he showed last season under Slot. A temporary spell out of the starting XI might even help — and writing off a player of his calibre is always risky.