John Barnes reckons £34m Liverpool player won't score as many this season after watching him vs Betis

07/27/2024 04:15 AM

Liverpool's pre-season properly got underway on Friday night with a 1-0 win over Real Betis.

The Reds put in a professional performance against the Spanish outfit as we got to see for the first time what the Merseyside club will look like under Arne Slot.

Liverpool were comfortable against Betis, but they weren't exactly exhilarating.

Mohamed Salah put in an interesting performance against the Seville-based outfit, playing a role that saw him drift wider rather than working as an inside forward as he so often did under Jurgen Klopp.

Speaking on the Official Liverpool Podcast, John Barnes has been discussing Salah's role at Liverpool, and he reckons the Egyptian may end up playing a more supportive role as more of a creator rather than a goalscorer next season.

Mohamed Salah's role will change

Barnes spoke about the £34m man and his role at Liverpool now.

"It seems as if Mo may play more of a supportive role in terms of being more creative. Of course, Mo plays well with a centre-forward who comes short and he makes those inward runs. You didn't see Mo make many inward runs today. He was playing a bit wider," Barnes said.

"They will have to tinker with that if you get more goals from midfield, if they don't get more goals from midfield I think Mo will get 30 or 40 goals, but as long as they share it around it will be fine."

Salah's role may change

Mohamed Salah's role may well change at Liverpool.

There are very few managers in world football who use their wingers in the way Klopp used Salah, and the Egyptian may have to adapt his game slightly.

Of course, Salah will still be very important and he'll still be one of the Reds' most important players, but he may have to contribute in other ways than scoring goals.

Salah will still be deadly, but he may not be as prolific as he has previously been.