Mo Salah 2025/26 Season

[Dreambeliever]

Ah come on now FFS. It was a goalkeeper error placed into his path a few yards from goal: he took it well, and some may have missed but hardly the stuff of undroppable genius.

I didn’t say it was. I said it wasn’t a tap in as it wasn’t.

 

[localny]

grand. Let’s say it wasn’t a tap in. It was a “side foot” in. Overall, It was a bit of a “gift on a plate” situation.

Either way we fought hard and battled well.

That was some shot by Rodgers at the start.

 

[localny]

First touch is terrible? Did you miss his hold up play then where his first touch was impeccable. If anything it’s his final touch and timing to release the ball on the break that’s off this season.

Make no mistake, Salah was central to us winning today and was not carried. Sure he fucked up plenty and should have been subbed but we didn’t carry him, not today.

definitely much improved over recent weeks.The fella is a legend. And I hope you’re right and I’m wrong.

 

[Woland]

He was better but he was still shit. Seeing him get outdone for pace by every defender he faces is sad.

 

[Woland]

View: https://www.instagram.com/p/DQhzHfDjAmR/?igsh=dndscWNwZHZncnli

See the Rooney fella here? He was playing in midfield for Manure and England by the time he was 30 and that's how he stayed relevant and made those numbers. Just sayin.

 

[darkstarexodus]

I'm just content that it didn't feel like we were playing with ten men.

I still raged at Mo and Cody at least a half dozen times each but it was clear that they were on the pitch.

 

[binomial]

it didn't feel like we were playing with ten men.

Thank you Emi Martinez.

 

[localny]

So I looked at stats to back up my assertions. Specifically these stats

• Dispossession: When a player loses the ball due to a tackle from an opponent.
  - Mo is the 4th most dispossessed player in the league so far this season (and not in a good way)
• Unsuccessful dribble / Failed dribble: When a player attempting to beat an opponent with the ball is tackled and loses possession.
  - The most successful dribbler is at 60% - Mo is at 7%
• Incomplete / Unsuccessful pass: When a pass does not reach a teammate, resulting in the other team gaining it or the ball goes out.
  - Mo's Pass completion is high at 80% (Cole Palmer at 70%)
• Miscontrol (or bad touch): When a player's poor touch or control results in the loss of the ball.
  - As of October 2025, reports highlighted him as having the lowest dribble success rate in the league. This is in comparison to his previous seasons, where his ball control and dribbling success were considerably higher.
• Fewer Touches: Salah's overall touches and touches inside the opponent's box have both significantly declined, indicating he is receiving the ball less often in dangerous areas. Down by almost 50%

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

Yesterday his dribble success was 62%, so getting back there on that front.

 

[localny]

Here's the top 50 in XGOT stats. Expected threat. He's 8th. Not bad.

1 Erling Haaland Manchester City 7.7
2 Jean-Philippe Mateta Crystal Palace 6.6
3 Igor Thiago Brentford 4.7
4 Bruno Fernandes Manchester United 4.1
5 Enzo Fernández Chelsea 4.0
6 Antoine Semenyo Bournemouth 3.6
7 Bryan Mbeumo Manchester United 3.6
8 Mohamed Salah Liverpool 3.6
9 Jaidon Anthony Bournemouth 3.5
10 Nick Woltemade Leeds United 3.5
11 Edward Nketiah Crystal Palace 3.4
12 Cole Palmer Chelsea 3.4
13 Dominic Solanke Bournemouth 3.4
14 Ben Brereton Díaz Ipswich Town 3.3
15 João Pedro Brighton & Hove Albion 3.3
16 Matheus Cunha Manchester United 3.2
17 Morgan Rogers Aston Villa 3.2
18 Kai Havertz Arsenal 3.1
19 Danny Welbeck Brighton & Hove Albion 3.0
20 Ollie Watkins Aston Villa 3.0
21 Alexander Isak Newcastle United 3.0
22 Jhon Durán Aston Villa 2.9
23 Jacob Ramsey Aston Villa 2.9
24 Marcus Tavernier Bournemouth 2.8
25 Federico Chiesa Liverpool 2.8
26 Luis Díaz Liverpool 2.7 (means, early 2025 is included in it as well)
27 Bukayo Saka Arsenal 2.7
28 Crysencio Summerville West Ham 2.6
29 Kevin Fulham 2.6
30 Anthony Gordon Newcastle United 2.5
31 Ivan Toney Brentford 2.5
32 Jarrod Bowen West Ham 2.5
33 Brennan Johnson Tottenham Hotspur 2.4
34 Kevin De Bruyne Manchester City 2.4
35 Leon Bailey Aston Villa 2.4
36 Jérémy Doku Manchester City 2.3
37 Noni Madueke Arsenal 2.3
38 Nicolas Jackson Chelsea 2.3
39 Raheem Sterling Chelsea 2.2
40 Yoane Wissa Brentford 2.2
41 Willian Fulham 2.2
42 Harvey Barnes Newcastle United 2.1
43 Callum Wilson West Ham 2.1
44 Elijah Adebayo Luton Town 2.1
45 Dwight McNeil Everton 2.0
46 Kaoru Mitoma Brighton & Hove Albion 2.0
47 Son Heung-min Tottenham Hotspur 2.0
48 Rodrigo Leeds United 1.9
49 Samed Bazdar Aston Villa 1.9
50 Phil Foden Manchester City 1.9

 

[localny]

Top 50 in Expected Goals and Assists

Rank Player Team xG
1 Erling Haaland Manchester City 8.94
2 Jean-Philippe Mateta Crystal Palace 7.24
3 Igor Thiago Brentford 4.52
4 Antoine Semenyo Bournemouth 4.20
5 Bruno Fernandes Manchester United 4.16
6 Beto Everton 3.80
7 Enzo Fernández Chelsea 3.75
8 Danny Welbeck Brighton & Hove Albion 3.40
9 Viktor Gyökeres Arsenal 3.39
10 Nick Woltemade Newcastle United 2.97
11 Mohamed Salah Liverpool 2.91
12 Cody Gakpo Liverpool 2.90
13 Ismaïla Sarr Crystal Palace 2.80
14 Chris Wood Nottingham Forest 2.79
15 Bryan Mbeumo Manchester United 2.77
16 Kevin Schade Brentford 2.70
17 Iliman Ndiaye Everton 2.35
18 Richarlison Tottenham Hotspur 2.23
19 Dango Ouattara Brentford 2.21
20 Jaidon Anthony Burnley 2.21
21 Hugo Ekitike Liverpool 2.10
22 Jacob Murphy Newcastle United 1.89
23 Micky van de Ven Tottenham Hotspur 1.86
24 Callum Wilson West Ham United 1.84
25 Elijah Adebayo Luton Town 1.83
26 Ollie Watkins Aston Villa 1.81
27 Amad Diallo Manchester United 1.81
28 Nicolas Jackson Chelsea 1.77
29 Taiwo Awoniyi Nottingham Forest 1.75
30 Alexander Isak Newcastle United 1.74
31 Dominic Solanke Bournemouth 1.73
32 Jarrod Bowen West Ham United 1.71
33 Brennan Johnson Tottenham Hotspur 1.70
34 João Pedro Brighton & Hove Albion 1.69
35 Morgan Rogers Aston Villa 1.67
36 Matheus Cunha Manchester United 1.65
37 Kai Havertz Arsenal 1.61
38 Bukayo Saka Arsenal 1.59
39 Raheem Sterling Chelsea 1.55
40 Yoane Wissa Brentford 1.54
41 Willian Fulham 1.51
42 Harvey Barnes Newcastle United 1.49
43 Dwight McNeil Everton 1.45
44 Kaoru Mitoma Brighton & Hove Albion 1.43
45 Son Heung-min Tottenham Hotspur 1.40
46 Rodrigo Leeds United 1.38
47 Samed Bazdar Aston Villa 1.35
48 Phil Foden Manchester City 1.32
49 Crysencio Summerville West Ham United 1.30
50 Marcus Tavernier Bournemouth 1.28

 

[localny]

Top 10 in combined expected goals and assists for forwards

Rank Player Team xG + xA
1 Erling Haaland Manchester City 9.7 (per FotMob)
2 Jean-Philippe Mateta Crystal Palace 8.4
3 Bruno Fernandes Manchester United 5.77
4 Bryan Mbeumo Manchester United 4.9
5 Igor Thiago Brentford 4.7
6 Cody Gakpo Liverpool 4.7
7 Antoine Semenyo Bournemouth 4.2
8 Mohamed Salah Liverpool 4.2
9 Danny Welbeck Brighton & Hove Albion 3.7
10 Jack Grealish Everton 3.1

 

[localny]

And last one..

As of October 31/November 1, 2025, the top 10 forwards in the Premier League for combined expected goals and assists (xG + xA) for the 2025-2026 season are:

Rank Player Club xG + xA (Combined)
1 Erling Haaland Manchester City 9.58
2 Jean-Philippe Mateta Crystal Palace 7.74
3 Cody Gakpo Liverpool 4.93
4 Bryan Mbeumo Manchester United 4.86
5 Igor Thiago Brentford 4.72
6 Antoine Semenyo Bournemouth 4.70
7 Mohamed Salah Liverpool 4.12
8 Beto Everton 3.91
9 Viktor Gyökeres Arsenal 3.88
10 Danny Welbeck Brighton & Hove Albion 3.72

 

[Holle]

So I looked at stats to back up my assertions. Specifically these stats

• Dispossession: When a player loses the ball due to a tackle from an opponent.
  - Mo is the 4th most dispossessed player in the league so far this season (and not in a good way)
• Unsuccessful dribble / Failed dribble: When a player attempting to beat an opponent with the ball is tackled and loses possession.
  - The most successful dribbler is at 60% - Mo is at 7%
• Incomplete / Unsuccessful pass: When a pass does not reach a teammate, resulting in the other team gaining it or the ball goes out.
  - Mo's Pass completion is high at 80% (Cole Palmer at 70%)
• Miscontrol (or bad touch): When a player's poor touch or control results in the loss of the ball.
  - As of October 2025, reports highlighted him as having the lowest dribble success rate in the league. This is in comparison to his previous seasons, where his ball control and dribbling success were considerably higher.
• Fewer Touches: Salah's overall touches and touches inside the opponent's box have both significantly declined, indicating he is receiving the ball less often in dangerous areas. Down by almost 50%

This is what (almost) everybody in their right mind can see every week.

 

[rubans]

also important to recognize past and present and context compared with rest of the fowards and team. Obsession with a single player’s performance will not fix the issue. Small improvements help though and so fo fixes to the system.

 

[binomial]

Fuc..........

More like it Mo, now show some of that fight in the league.

 

[Halmeister]

I thought he was poor tonight, but worked hard I suppose

 

[localny]

Dribbled into a cul de sac at every opportunity

 

[tombrown]

I'm clearly on another planet - I thought he had a really good game

 

[Fabio]

Salah was improved again, but still wasteful. At least this time he was getting in to dangerous areas more.

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

Yeah, I think if another player played like him tonight, the comments would be different. He played well tonight, better than a number of other players.

 

[Mamma Mia]

I'm clearly on another planet - I thought he had a really good game

I did too. I also think he's a very very good player.

We're wicked Salah apologists.

 

[tombrown]

OK - so maybe I'm not as thick as I like to think I am

 

[Fabio]

Yeah, I think if another player played like him tonight, the comments would be different. He played well tonight, better than a number of other players.

Think that's the key part. Anyone else would be given more slack, but because we do know the highs of Salah, the recent lows are exceptionally bad. Add in the Extra allowances that he said he was given last year, it became more damning

But he seems to be turning a corner for this season, which is good

 

[rubans]

I thought he was impactful and exciting again. Constantly involved, on another day he should have got couple of goals and assits. Constant threat and that will do on a night the team played well. It’s never about just one player.

 

[Halmeister]

I don't know. Half the time he just walked in a straight line at Carreras who promptly took the ball off him.

His work rate and effort was there, though, but the finesse and technical ability wasn't. There was a break late in the second half when he just toeyed it at the left back's shins when anywhere else would have led to a one on one for us to kill the game off.

 

[Dreambeliever]

I thought he was poor tonight, but worked hard I suppose

View: https://x.com/Squawka_Live/status/1985832319341506568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1985832319341506568%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=

 

[Halmeister]

View: https://x.com/Squawka_Live/status/1985832319341506568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1985832319341506568%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=

Where's the stat for bumbling forward in a straight line right at Carreras and losing the ball?

 

[Halmeister]

By the way, keep an eye on the Wirtz/Salah dynamic. A couple of times Salah should've squared it to Wirtz this season and he hasn't. Yesterday when Salah had his shot blocked in the 86th minute or whenever it was, Wirtz was free for a tap in (I actually don't blame Salah for shooting, but the elite move would've been to lay it off for Wirtz) Wirtz turned around in disgust and looked away while the ball was still in play. Can see potential clashes between those two.

 

[MomoWASright]

By the way, keep an eye on the Wirtz/Salah dynamic. A couple of times Salah should've squared it to Wirtz this season and he hasn't. Yesterday when Salah had his shot blocked in the 86th minute or whenever it was, Wirtz was free for a tap in (I actually don't blame Salah for shooting, but the elite move would've been to lay it off for Wirtz) Wirtz turned around in disgust and looked away while the ball was still in play. Can see potential clashes between those two.

That’s the third time it’s happened.