SALAH STRUGGLES IN CARABAO CUP FINAL LOSS

Mohamed Salah had a quiet performance in Liverpool’s Carabao Cup final against Newcastle, recording just 23 touches— the fewest of any outfield player on the pitch. Despite the absence of Newcastle’s first-choice left-back Lewis Hall, with Tino Livramento filling in for him, Salah could not find any space to exploit and failed to get away from his marker.

Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville was quick to point out the lack of influence Salah had on the game, saying, “I’ve never seen Mo Salah as quiet as I have seen him in this game. He has had three touches, 25 minutes into this second half.” This comment highlighted the stark contrast to Salah’s usual performances, where he is typically one of the most involved players on the pitch. However, despite his best efforts, Salah barely had a chance to make an impact and was largely a non-factor throughout the match.

Salah was not the only Liverpool forward who struggled against Newcastle. Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota also had quiet games, unable to hold the ball up or match the physicality of the Newcastle defense. Even Cody Gakpo, who came off the bench, appeared to be out of form and not fully fit after recovering from a recent injury. Federico Chiesa, who had joined Liverpool’s attack, seemed to be the sharpest of the group, emphasizing the lack of intensity and quality from the other attackers. Salah’s contribution in the final third was minimal, as he only made one pass into the attacking area and, while he wasn’t dispossessed once, the ball simply didn’t come to him in dangerous positions.

Post-match analysis from Arne Slot, who was attempting to explain Liverpool’s poor performance, focused on the physical and mental challenges his side faced. “Mentally, it’s always difficult to judge,” Slot said when discussing the team’s performance. “Were we on Tuesday mentally or physically tired? No. But this game had nothing to do with running. This game had only to do with playing duels and there was no intensity in terms of running in this game at all.”

According to Slot, the match was slow and lacked intensity, which made it difficult for his side to press Newcastle effectively. Instead, Newcastle bypassed Liverpool’s press and used long balls to create set-pieces, which allowed them to dominate the aerial duels. This style of play played to Newcastle’s strengths, with Slot admitting that in a game fought primarily through the air, his team was always going to struggle. “If we play 10 times a game of football through the air against them, they win it probably nine times because they are a stronger team through the air than us,” Slot explained. This aerial dominance led to the first goal, and the second goal was also a header that fell to Alexander Isak, who slotted home to make it 2-0.

Liverpool’s inability to cope with Newcastle’s aerial prowess and lack of intensity was evident, and the team never seemed to get going in the match. With Salah and his fellow forwards off form, the team’s usual attacking threat was nowhere to be found. This result will undoubtedly be a disappointment for Liverpool fans, especially given the expectations surrounding Salah’s impact in a cup final.

In conclusion, Liverpool’s Carabao Cup final against Newcastle was a game where Salah and his fellow attackers could not get into the rhythm, and the physicality of Newcastle’s approach played a significant role in limiting their influence. While Salah’s quiet performance stood out, the entire attacking unit struggled, and Newcastle’s aerial superiority ultimately proved to be the difference in a 2-0 victory.