Mohamed Salah (£13.5m) is the best Fantasy Premier League option we have ever had and a Premier League great. In his seven seasons at Liverpool, he has scored 154 league goals and recorded 76 FPL assists.
Arguably, no player has ever been a more regular go-to captain. Due to his goals and assists, being classified as a midfielder, being nailed-on to start and being on penalties, there was nobody more reliable than the Egyptian.
However, Salah has now been dropped in two of his team’s last three games, and after his public pitchside spat with Jurgen Klopp during the 2-2 draw with West Ham on Saturday, does this now mean he is finished as an FPL must-have this season?
What to do if you own Salah…
Liverpool have three games of their season left. Their fixtures are positive from an attacking perspective as they take on Tottenham Hotspur (H), Aston Villa (A) and Wolves (H). On paper, Salah is a worthy captaincy option against Spurs and Wolves.
However, the question now is whether he is even a viable asset, especially at his lofty price of £13.5m. With Klopp leaving at the end of this season, there is less incentive for the German to look to preserve future team harmony — even if Liverpool expect the Egyptian to remain at Anfield beyond this summer.
Salah has 17 goals and nine assists in only 25 starts this season which, on the face of it, looks like a solid return. However, since returning from injury in Gameweek 30, the 31-year-old has only managed two goals and his performances have clearly dipped. This happens to all players as they come in and out of form, but this may well have contributed to his omission from the first team in the last few games.
If you don’t own the Salah, it’s an easy decision to avoid him right now. However, if you do own the Liverpool man, you should probably have a plan to sell him soon. But we should wait until later in the week for more news as the player and manager may make amends.
Even if that happens, I don’t know if it guarantees we will get the Salah of old. His performances have been mediocre since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations and with the league title bid all but over for Liverpool, they have nothing left to play for. Salah was also substituted after only 59 minutes against Sheffield United in Gameweek 31.
Salah argues with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp at the London Stadium (Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Although it’s not mathematically impossible that they finish lower than third, Klopp’s side are eight points ahead of fourth-placed Aston Villa with three games left, therefore only need a point to secure third position. We have also seen Klopp rotate his squad on the final day of the season when his team has nothing to play for.
From an FPL perspective, Salah becomes an easier sell also due to the fact Liverpool don’t double in Gameweek 37. So selling him for a double gameweek player might be the best play.
At the moment, all we can do is speculate with the information we have, but I would anticipate that he at least gets one full game in the final match of the season when Liverpool welcome Wolves to Anfield.
Gameweek 38 might even be a great time to buy Salah and captain him as he will likely be owned by fewer managers. Manchester City’s Erling Haaland (£14.1m) plays West Ham at home, and I believe he will be the most-captained player that weekend.
For now, though, it’s best to wait for more updates. This situation might present an opportunity for owners to have him as a bit of a differential as the majority could avoid picking the Liverpool forward.
What else to keep an eye on
Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez (£7.7m) was also benched for the second time in three games.
The Uruguayan is an easy sell if you own him. He has more competition for his spot with Cody Gakpo (£7.1m) now fit and he hasn’t been at his best of late. His last goal came in Gameweek 31 against Sheffield United — and that was from a bizarre goalkeeping mistake.
GO DEEPER
Should Darwin Nunez be part of Liverpool’s future?
With Alexander Isak (£8.3m), Nicolas Jackson (£6.9m), Joao Pedro (£5.2m) and even Rasmus Hojlund (£7.1m) having a double gameweek in 37, there are plenty of alternatives.
Newcastle’s attackers look to be the ones to target going forward. As well as a double gamweek, their final four fixtures are: Burnley (A), Brighton (H), Manchester United (A) and Brentford (A).
Isak and Anthony Gordon (£6.3m) are the best assets to own and the fact that the former played the full 90 minutes even as Callum Wilson (£7.8m) was brought on in their win over Sheffield United last weekend further solidifies him as a fantastic pick.
Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak are in fine form — and have a double gameweek on the horizon (Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Fabian Schar (£5.7m) is one to keep an eye on for owners as he was taken off at half-time with a hamstring issue.
With Manchester City and Arsenal both picking up vital wins, the title race remains in the balance. This should mean both Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola play their best teams with minimal rotation for now. It’s great news if you own assets from any of the two teams.
Ederson (£5.5m) looks like a sell for owners as he was taken off at half-time due to a collision with Nottingham Forest’s Wily Boly (£4.5m).
Post-match, Guardiola said that his ’keeper’s injury “doesn’t look good’’ as he was seen leaving the City ground with a sling on his arm. If the Brazilian is out for the season, then Stefan Ortega (£3.7m) looks like a steal.
Phil Foden (£8.3m) didn’t make the matchday squad but that was due to illness, so he should hopefully be available for the next gameweek.
Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke (£4.1m), who was quite a popular pick for those who recently wildcarded, also didn’t make the squad for his team’s loss to Bournemouth due to a muscular injury. Wait for more news during the week, but he may also have to be transferred out soon.
Gameweek 35 concludes on Thursday when Chelsea face Tottenham at Stamford Bridge.
(Top photo: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
