Liverpool star is a doubt: Time to do something CRAZY with Mo Salah

Liverpool have one key star as a doubt for their meeting with West Ham United on Sunday. It's a chance to do something crazy with Mo Salah.

Hugo Ekitike is a doubt to face West Ham United this weekend. The French striker went off injured with a back problem against PSV Eindhoven in midweek and it's not certain that he'll be ready for the match later today.

That's a blow for Liverpool, of course. They could really use as many players as possible right now as so many are already injured.

They have no right-backs, while Giovanni Leoni is out for the season. Florian Wirtz has missed the last two games with a muscle problem, too.

And then there's the problem with Alexander Isak. The Swede didn't have a pre-season and has clearly lacked fitness since joining Liverpool. Even now, he's not up to speed and finds himself on the fringes of games.

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So if Ekitike can't play, or simply can't play for a decent period of time, Arne Slot will have to try something else. We expect him to rely on Isak somewhat but he's got to have another option in this one.

We think he does have that option - and it involves Mo Salah.

Mo Salah to change role

Salah has really struggled to get into good positions this season, often isolated out on the right flank. Liverpool's inability to create space for him to run into means he sticks out there for most of the match - and doesn't have anywhere near the influence he had last season.

And so perhaps it's time to try something very different. Salah could play in the middle as a striker, taking over from the injured Ekitike.

We'd argue that he could even be a better option there than Isak while the latter is finding his feet. At the very least, it's something to try while Liverpool search for a solution to their woeful form.

Salah's record as a striker is phenomenal, after all. Jurgen Klopp used him there on occasion, most notably back in 2018/19 when he switched to a 4-2-3-1 as he waited for new players to adjust.

That is, notably, the exact same situation Liverpool find themselves in. They're playing 4-2-3-1 and several new players need to adapt to life at Anfield.

Back in that 18/19 campaign, Salah started 13 games as a striker, per Understat. He scored 13 times in those matches, assisting another five.

His record as a centre-forward from that season on is just as impressive. 23 played, 21 scored, 5 assists. You can extend that slightly by adding in a couple of matches as an attacking midfielder that brought two goals and an assist.

Salah, then, can adapt to a central role and absolutely thrive. Importantly, he can do it at times when the rest of the team is still trying to gel.

We think it's something Liverpool and Slot should try to lean on during this patch of poor form - especially as Ekitike is a doubt.