Key Highlights
- Peter Crouch criticizes Liverpool’s performance as “deep rooted” problems emerge.
- Crouch advocates for dropping Mohamed Salah to improve team form against West Ham United.
- Liverpool has experienced a nine-game losing streak in 2025, the worst since 1953.
- Salah’s defensive output and goal scoring are under scrutiny during this difficult period.
The Crisis at Anfield: Peter Crouch Identifies Root Problems for Liverpool
Peter Crouch, the former Liverpool striker, has shed light on the deep-rooted issues plaguing the club. Speaking to Paddy Power, Crouch highlighted that Arne Slot’s team is now experiencing a “deep rooted” problem that goes beyond just one player or situation.
Deep-Rooted Issues and Mohamed Salah’s Role
Crouch emphasized that the current form of Liverpool, who have lost nine out of their last twelve games including a 4-1 defeat to PSV in the Champions League, is concerning. He specifically called for dropping Mohamed Salah from the starting lineup against West Ham United on Sunday.
“Defensively, woeful (against PSV),” Crouch stated. “It just didn’t look like them at all. They weren’t getting up to people, there was no tracking back.” Crouch continued, “Salah is guilty of that, but I don’t think there’s anyone in a Liverpool shirt right now who can hold their hands up and say they’ve been playing well. A real frustration for all Liverpool fans.”
Historical Context and Current Struggles
The current situation at Anfield is reminiscent of the challenges faced by former manager Jurgen Klopp. Crouch, who won the 2006 FA Cup with Liverpool, noted that the team has lost its fear factor. He pointed out losses to Manchester United, Nottingham Forest, and PSV Eindhoven as evidence of this decline.
“Teams are going to the Etihad and Anfield now and believe they’ll get a result,” Crouch remarked. “In years gone by, certainly under Jurgen Klopp and (Manchester City boss) Pep Guardiola, it was a complete write-off. Even if you did get a result, you’d be expecting your goalkeeper to be keeping you in it, saving 25/30 odd shots, so there’s definitely a loss of the fear factor and you can put some pressure on them.”
Salah’s Performance and Team Rotation
While Crouch believes Mohamed Salah still has potential, he also stated that the team may need to rotate players to find solutions. He added, “I’m sure Salah can turn it around, and if anyone deserves a little bit of grace, I would say Mo Salah deserves it. He’s not undroppable by any stretch of the imagination, and if he isn’t pulling his weight and Arne Slot needs to rotate things, then of course you can change things.
But at the end of the day, I still think Salah can do it and he’ll come good.”
Crouch’s comments come amidst a challenging period for Liverpool, who are currently in their worst run of form since 1953. The team faces an important match against West Ham United this weekend, where dropping Mohamed Salah might be necessary to spark a response.
