Mohamed Salah’s recent performance in Liverpool’s 2-1 Carabao Cup final defeat to Newcastle has reignited discussions about his record in decisive matches. The Egyptian forward failed to register a goal or an assist, making it five consecutive finals without a direct contribution for either club or country.
Liverpool vs Newcastle – A Frustrating Night at Wembley
Salah was largely ineffective against Newcastle, struggling to break free from the defensive efforts of makeshift left-back Tino Livramento. This followed a similarly challenging outing against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, where Nuno Mendes kept him quiet. These performances coincided with a disappointing week for Liverpool, as their hopes of a treble faded.
Despite these setbacks, Salah remains integral to Liverpool’s Premier League title challenge. His form in the league has been outstanding, with 27 goals and 17 assists in 29 appearances. Remarkably, he has contributed to goals in 25 of those games. However, his inability to replicate this form in finals has drawn criticism.
A Dismal Record in Finals
Salah’s struggles in high-stakes finals are not new. In eight finals for Liverpool and Egypt, he has only one goal and one assist to his name. His last significant contribution came in the 2019 Champions League final against Tottenham, where he scored a penalty. The only assist he has registered in a final was during the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, setting up Mohamed Elneny in a match Egypt eventually lost 2-1 to Cameroon.
Since then, Salah has failed to score or assist in five consecutive finals:
- 2021 AFCON final (Egypt vs. Senegal)
- 2022 Carabao Cup final (Liverpool vs. Chelsea)
- 2022 FA Cup final (Liverpool vs. Chelsea)
- 2022 Champions League final (Liverpool vs. Real Madrid)
- 2025 Carabao Cup final (Liverpool vs. Newcastle)
Concerning Statistics
What made his latest performance against Newcastle even more alarming was the fact that, according to Opta, Salah failed to register a shot on target or create a chance in a match where he played the full 90 minutes. This was the first time in his Liverpool career that he had gone an entire game, when playing the full match, without making any attacking impact.
In contrast, substitutes Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones were among the few Liverpool players who managed to create opportunities. Federico Chiesa, who came off the bench, was the only Liverpool player to register multiple shots on target. Meanwhile, Salah had just 23 touches and completed 13 out of 17 attempted passes, further highlighting his struggles.
The Contrast in Big Games
This stands in stark contrast to his performance in Liverpool’s recent 2-0 victory over Manchester City, where he played a crucial role. In that match, Salah scored one goal, assisted the other, had 47 touches, created three chances, and hit the target with both of his shots.
Can Mohamed Salah Break the Final Curse?
While Salah’s overall contributions to Liverpool’s season have been exceptional, his difficulties in finals remain a point of concern. His record suggests a trend of underwhelming performances when the stakes are at their highest. As Liverpool continue their push for Premier League glory, fans will hope that Salah can shake off this unwanted record and make his mark when it matters most.
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