'Shouldn't really say this': Mark Lawrenson admits he's just said something potentially controversial about Salah

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Mohamed Salah is certainly under the spotlight right now given his sudden downturn in form.The Reds are really at a crossroads right now as it seems no matter what Arne Slot does, performances on the pitch just do not seem to be improving.One key reason for this is due to Salah, with the Egyptian not looking able to carry Liverpool on his back like he has done so many times in the past.Join our newsletter for news & smart analysis. He has just two goals in the league which is uncharacteristically low for him at this stage of the season, with many starting to question whether he should still be in the team.Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson has had his say on the matter, and he has said something that he believes is really bad to say.Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty ImagesMark Lawrenson believes Mohamed Salah’s contract has played a part in his formTowards the end of last season, there was absolute uproar as it looked as if Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold were all going to leave as free agents.In the end, it was only the latter who did, with the other two signing two-year deals much to the fans’ delight.However, Lawrenson believes that this may have been a turning point in Salah’s career that has actually done more damage than good, with the former defender believing the Egyptian has got too comfortable.

“Was he even playing yesterday?” Lawrenson jokingly replied on talkSPORT when asked about Salah’s performance against Man United.“He’s not been good enough. We are not worried by the fact he’s missed chances because that is the way he plays and the nature of his position.“But you’ve got to work hard for the team, it’s not 10 teas and one coffee, it should be 11 teas.“I shouldn’t really say this but you look at him now and he’s got his contract, is he comfortable?

Is he really working hard enough to be in this team? You’d probably say no.READ MORE: Steve Nicol launches attack on ‘petrified’ Liverpool player after Man United defeat“You say it with trepidation as they have a game midweek and he’ll probably score a hat-trick or something, but as a manager, you have to have a conversation with him.“You have to say ‘look, we need a little bit extra,” but so too do most of the team in fairness.”Mohamed Salah has certainly dropped off since signing a new contractIt has happened in the past where players have signed a contract and then taken their foot off the gas knowing they are earning good money for many years to come, although Salah does not strike you as the type of character to do that.However, there has certainly been a sudden drop-off in form since he put pen to paper, with his goal involvements becoming far less.Salah has played 18 times since he signed his deal April 11th, scoring just five and assisting four, a much lower return than he is normally associated with.What the future holds for the 33-year-old is not yet known, but if he does not find his shooting boots once again, then his Liverpool career, although it can never be tarnished, will end on a bit of a whimper.