Liverpool fans have been scratching their heads over Mo Salah’s recent form, especially after his mixed performance at Burnley.
The Egyptian superstar struggled for much of the game but ultimately snatched victory with an injury-time penalty.
When asked whether he would ever bench or substitute Salah, manager Arne Slot admitted he sometimes considers giving the forward less game time—but ultimately, Salah’s sheer value always wins out.
As the champions head into a critical period with a trip to Chelsea followed by Manchester United after the international break, concerns over Salah’s output are real.
Analysts have pointed to a longer-term dip in form, stretching back to the final third of last season.
Games like the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle and the Champions League clashes with PSG saw Salah largely anonymous.
Since March, he’s added only five club goals, including that Burnley penalty, leaving Slot hoping for more before the Africa Cup of Nations in December.
Ruben Amorim Faces Recurring Defensive Headaches
Over at the Premier League’s other end of the table, Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim continues to wrestle with his defensive setup.
In his last three league games, Amorim has swapped central defenders midway through the second half—a move that signals deeper problems.
Substituting a centre half rarely changes the game unless it addresses injury or fatigue, so this pattern highlights either misjudged starting selections or a lack of player fitness.
Neither scenario bodes well for the team’s stability.
Golf Echoes of Keegan Make Waves Across the Pond
While football dominated much of the weekend, one of the sharpest sporting quotes came from an unlikely source: the golf fairways of Bethpage Black in New York.
BBC 5 Live’s John Murray, primarily a football commentator, remarked on the echoes of footballing legend Kevin Keegan during the Ryder Cup, “All I can hear is ‘Keegan, Keegan, Keegan’ out here.
The last time I heard that was in the 1980s.” A reminder that football culture and nostalgia can pop up in the most unexpected places.
Henderson’s Premier League Revival
Jordan Henderson, the former Sunderland midfielder now starring for Brentford, has enjoyed a surprising resurgence.
Once on a downward trajectory through Liverpool, Saudi Arabia, and Ajax, Henderson has become a pivotal figure in West London.
Under Thomas Tuchel’s guidance with England, he has regained his form, playing every Premier League game since Brentford’s opening defeat at Nottingham Forest.
Against Manchester United, Henderson’s intelligent play from deep, including a key pass for Brentford’s first goal, showcased why he remains indispensable—even at 35.
Sunderland’s Pragmatic Rise
Sunderland’s early season success in the top flight is built on discipline and defensive reliability.
Their win at Nottingham Forest means they only need one more point to match bottom club Southampton’s 12 points from last season.
Despite scoring only seven goals—the lowest tally in the top 10—the team has conceded just four, proving that a conservative, structured approach can deliver results.
Sunderland’s transfer strategy has also shifted.
While they previously focused on young, resellable talent, summer acquisitions such as 29-year-old Omar Alderete and veteran Granit Xhaka demonstrate a new emphasis on experience and footballing nous.
Sheffield United Finds Temporary Relief
In the Championship, Sheffield United finally secured a win under Chris Wilder’s second spell, defeating Oxford 1-0.
Despite sitting bottom of the table, Wilder’s return has renewed interest in the club’s prospects.
However, past disagreements between Wilder and the owners over recruitment and team selection signal that long-term harmony may still be fragile.
West Ham Struggles With Managerial Transitions
West Ham’s turbulent season continued as Graham Potter was sacked and replaced by Nuno Espirito Santo.
Potter’s preference for possession-based football clashes with Nuno’s more pragmatic style, leaving the squad in a transitional limbo.
Recruitment strategies tailored to one coach now conflict with the requirements of another, and the club’s historic pattern of hiring unemployed managers highlights a peculiarly reactive approach to leadership—cheap in cost, but difficult in terms of long-term planning.