Jamie Carragher blasts Arne Slot for benching Mohamed Salah against PSG

Jamie Carragher has blasted Arne Slot’s decision to bench Mohamed Salah for a “nowhere near fit” Alexander Isak as Liverpool crashed out of the Champions League at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain.

Liverpool required another famous Anfield comeback to flip their quarter-final tie on its head after a dismal first leg in Paris but failed to come close in that regard, instead losing 2-0 on the night to PSG and 4-0 on aggregate.

Slot opted to start the game with Isak, making his first start after four months injured, leading the line while Hugo Ekitike was on the right, chosen ahead of Salah, who will leave Liverpool at the end of the season.

Ekitike suffered a potentially season-ending injury on the half-hour mark which meant Salah did get onto the pitch earlier than expected, while Isak was replaced at half-time after an ineffective 45 minutes.

Arne Slot (right) started Mohamed Salah on the bench against PSG (AP)

Carragher was not under the impression that Slot’s decision to drop Salah related to any grudge he might hold after the tirade the Egyptian went on earlier in the season, but was still left baffled by the tactical choice.

"The manager will have his reasons, but Isak is nowhere near fit,” Carragher told CBS Sports Golazo. “Mohamed Salah didn’t play the first leg so he’s not like some of the players who played last week and then played at the weekend in the Premier League.

“He played in the Premier League and scored a goal. He’s still one of Liverpool’s best goalscorers. He’s used to this system. Isak’s never even played with Ekitike before.

“I don’t think Arne Slot is the type of manager who would be thinking ‘I remember what you did to me a few months ago, calling me out publicly’. Certain managers in the past, maybe Alex Ferguson, might think something like that. I don’t think Arne Slot would.

Jamie Carragher did not believe Slot benched Salah because of a grudge (PA)

“Is it because he’s already announced he’s leaving? It’s something like ‘I’m going with the players who are going to be here next year.’ That’s the only thing I can think of. Even that doesn’t make sense. It’s about the here and now. I’m flabbergasted.”

The former Liverpool defender also lamented £100m man Florian Wirtz’s regression in form, failing to stamp his mark on yet another game for the Reds.

Wirtz seemed to have found his feet after a slow start at Anfield, scoring six and assisting five across the months of January and February, but he has failed to inspire since returning from a back injury.

“He hasn’t delivered so far," Carragher admitted.

"The best way you’d describe him is that he’s neat and tidy. There’s no real punch at the end of it. He looks nice between boxes, he’s a lovely footballer as you’d expect for that price tag. But, when you’re talking about the players he is up against in Vitinha and Neves, he couldn’t lay a glove on them in the first game.

“When you think of what Liverpool spent, they basically got nothing. We know he’s signed a five year deal, he’s here for a long term. It’s only the second time he’s started with Ekitike and Isak. The other was the 5-1 win against Frankfurt. That bodes well, but it has been very underwhelming.”

Questioning which position the German is best suited, Carragher added: “People will always describe him as a 10. I don’t think Liverpool can afford to have him as a number 10 in the Premier League week in, week out because of his lack of physicality.

“There’s talk that he likes playing on the inside left. That’s where I can see him playing in the future. I think next season, Szoboszlai can go back to his position as the number 10.”