Joleon Lescott believes Mohamed Salah could break his mini-goal drought in Sunday's huge Premier League title race clash between Liverpool and Manchester City at the Etihad. The Egyptian is goalless in three games and has not scored from open play in the last seven.
Salah still has 20 goals in the Premier League this season and also leads the way for assists with 11. His form before he left for the Africa Cup of Nations was arguably the best in the world but heartbreak with his national side - Egypt lost in the final to Sadio Mane's Senegal, before going down to the same country in a crucial World Cup qualifier - may have led to an understandable drop-off.
But former City and Everton defender Lescott highlighted how Salah must start on Sunday alongside Mane in the Liverpool front three.
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“It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Mohamed Salah back on the goal trail after drawing blanks in his last three outings," said Lescott to LiveScore. "What Jurgen Klopp said about him needing a bit of time to settle after that tough stint away with Egypt is an interesting though, given how close the German boss is to his players.
"I don’t doubt that defeat has had an impact on Salah. There was a lot of pressure on his shoulders and these things can take time to recover from. If there was ever an occasion for him to put those troubles behind him though, it’d be this game.“
Lescott also discussed who should start alongside Salah and Mane at the Etihad on Sunday.
“ Luis Diaz impressed against Benfica and I think Klopp is already a big fan, while in terms of a goal threat, you’d have to say Diogo Jota has shown himself to be the most reliable," Lescott said to LiveScore. To read his full column, click here.
“Yet Roberto Firmino is someone who can get the best out of those around him, allowing the likes of Salah and Mane to push higher up the field. It’s a real headache for Klopp, but not exactly a bad one to have.”
