“Arne Slot Undone by Liverpool’s Disappearing Act in PSG Showdown”

“Arne Slot Betrayed by Invisible Liverpool Star in Both Legs Against PSG”

Liverpool’s penalty shootout agony against PSG in the Champions League Round of 16 marked a rare setback in Arne Slot’s debut season at the helm on Tuesday night. Having spent only £12.5 million during his first transfer window as Jurgen Klopp’s successor, the Dutchman has impressively guided the Reds to the verge of Premier League triumph, with a League Cup final clash against Newcastle United also looming on Sunday.

However, while Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones will undoubtedly be hurting after their decisive penalty misses sealed Liverpool’s fate in midweek, one player who arguably let Arne Slot down over both legs — and whom few would have expected — was Mohamed Salah. Despite his outstanding form this season and growing Ballon d’Or whispers, Salah failed to rise to the occasion when his team needed him most.

Mohamed Salah failed to create a single big chance across both legs of the Champions League Round of 16 clash, a surprising stat for a player of his calibre and influence.

As Désiré Doué’s winning penalty rippled the net, Salah stood staring into the abyss, visibly crushed. A player long known for delivering on the biggest stages since his arrival in 2017, the Egyptian King will surely be agonizing over his underwhelming display against Liverpool’s toughest opponents of the season — a performance that has left the burden of defeat squarely on his shoulders.

Mohamed Salah’s ‘Phantom’ Performance Against PSG
The Egyptian star endured a nightmarish tie, losing possession a staggering 47 times over the course of 220 minutes. For a player of his stature, Salah’s impact was virtually invisible when Liverpool needed him most.

Whether it was PSG’s relentless pressing, Liverpool’s struggle to control the midfield, Nuno Mendes’ standout performance, or simply a dip in Salah’s own quality, the 32-year-old looked a shadow of his usual self across both legs of the Champions League Round of 16.

Remarkably, Salah failed to win a single duel against his opposite number in the first leg — a pattern that carried into the second. Over 220 minutes of football, he lost possession 47 times and completed just 3 of his 11 attempted dribbles, far below the standards expected from Liverpool’s talisman.

After PSG’s victory — which much of the French media had predicted with confidence, especially after their narrow and unfortunate 1-0 loss in the first leg where Liverpool survived 27 shots, including 10 on target, thanks to Harvey Elliott’s dramatic late winner — attention quickly turned to Liverpool’s main man, Mohamed Salah.

In particular, French outlet GFFN handed Salah a brutal 2/10 rating for his first-leg performance at the Parc des Princes, highlighting how Nuno Mendes completely nullified him and branding the Ballon d’Or contender a mere “phantom” on the pitch. One journalist summed it up pointedly in the same report:

“The Egyptian was ghostly, barely touching the ball in PSG’s half. On the rare occasions he tried to burst forward, Salah was completely swallowed up by Nuno Mendes — in a duel where it was supposed to be the Portuguese full-back facing hell.”

Meanwhile, Footmercato and Homme du Match handed Salah a 4/10 for his display in the second leg, while Maxifoot was slightly more generous with a 4.5/10. Summing up his underwhelming performance, Maxifoot wrote: “Well controlled [by PSG] in the first leg (1-0), the Liverpool winger endured another mixed evening against Paris Saint-Germain. He lacked sharpness and was once again tightly contained by Mendes in the first half.”

It was undoubtedly a week to forget for Salah, who not only struggled on the pitch but also faced heavy criticism online. One user on X summed it up bluntly: “What Nuno Mendes did to Salah over these two legs was absolutely absurd. He had this man as a prisoner of Azkaban. Salah had ZERO answers.”

Another frustrated fan added: “Salah stinking for 210 minutes straight over two Champions League legs is beyond anything my mortal mind could’ve conjured.”

Others didn’t hold back either, with one calling his showing an “abomination” and “absolutely shocking”, while another concluded harshly: “Over two legs, probably the worst I’ve ever seen Salah.”

Salah’s Ballon d’Or Hopes Hang in the Balance
The Egyptian’s status as a contender for “World’s Best Footballer” is now under serious scrutiny. After a Champions League tie where he failed to deliver when it mattered most, Salah’s Ballon d’Or ambitions have taken a major hit — raising questions about whether he can truly rise above the rest on the biggest stage.

All season long, it looked as though Mohamed Salah was crafting a legendary campaign — one that would cement his place among the Premier League’s all-time greats. He has been central to Liverpool’s success, driving their push for glory on all fronts. But such is the fickle nature of football, and with Liverpool’s painful Champions League exit, early Ballon d’Or whispers have quickly been drowned out by doubts.

Even Thierry Henry was quick to name Raphinha as the new frontrunner for football’s most prestigious individual prize — a view that has been eagerly echoed by rival fans. Yet, make no mistake: Salah remains arguably the best player in world football right now. Still, with voters often favouring continental success, his premature exit from Europe could be a decisive blow to his Ballon d’Or hopes, no matter how remarkable his domestic form has been.

Mohamed Salah’s 2024/25 Stats
Games: 42
Goals: 32
Assists: 22

With Raphinha, Kylian Mbappé, and Ousmane Dembélé all still chasing European glory heading into the business end of the season, Salah’s rivals for the Ballon d’Or could very well leave him behind in the race — especially if they lift the Champions League trophy. Even if Liverpool were to secure both the Premier League and Carabao Cup, history shows that continental triumph often weighs heavier in the minds of voters when it comes to awarding football’s highest individual honor.

All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt & Sofascore (correct as of 12/03/2025).

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