Should Dream Team managers do the unthinkable and ditch top points scorer Mohamed Salah?

THIS is an uncomfortable conversation.

It may be the case that no Dream Team player in history has had more credit in the bank than Mohamed Salah (£7.5m) does right now.

That being said, it’s time for gaffers to question whether Liverpool’s No11 is still worthy of his place in a competitive XI.

Dream TeamSay it ain’t so[/caption]

Salah is by far and away the top performer this season with 462 points to his name, 105 more than his closest rival.

He’s scored 32 goals and provided 22 assists in all competitions as the leader in both key metrics.

Just three weeks ago, the faintest whisper of doubt about Salah’s viability would have been shot down by any right-minded Dream Team manager.

But things change quickly in this game and not even the most dominant players are immune from fluctuations in form.

Salah has mustered just 11 points from his last four games in a run that has featured just two shots on target.

AlamyThe goals have dried up for Dream Team’s outright top performer[/caption]

SALAH’S FORM DIP

Gameweek 27: 3 pts v PSG (h)

Gameweek 28: 2 pts v Newcastle (h)

Gameweek 29: 4 pts v Everton (h)

Gameweek 30: 2 pts v Fulham (a)

Given the Egyptian superstar averages 10.3 points-per-game across 2024/25 as a whole, his recent returns have been bitterly disappointing.

Salah’s dwindling form is not the only cause for concern as the schedule also demands attention.

Arne Slot’s side remain heavy favourites to lift the Premier League trophy but they suffered notable defeats in the other three competitions in the space of five dramatic weeks.

GettyLiverpool’s defeat to PSG has had a significant knock-on effect[/caption]

In February, the Reds were upset by Plymouth in the FA Cup fourth round while March saw them humbled by PSG in the Champions League prior to defeat in the Carabao Cup final at the hands of Newcastle.

Consequently, Liverpool have a maximum of seven fixtures remaining before the end of the season.

This fixture deficit will be starkly apparent in the coming days when Arsenal, Aston Villa, Tottenham, Manchester United and Chelsea will all fulfil European quarter-final first legs while Salah and friends twiddle their thumbs.

Furthermore, Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, Manchester City and Aston Villa all have an additional domestic fixture over Liverpool in the form of an FA Cup semi-final, with two progressing to the final.

Simply put, Salah has fewer point-scoring opportunities ahead of him than several other productive talents.

AFPDream Team bosses will be reluctant to ditch Salah[/caption]

Reduced returns combined with a relatively relaxed schedule would usually be enough for Dream Team bosses to lose patience with an individual but Salah’s immense record means this is not a decision to take lightly.

It would not come as a surprise if the prolific 32-year-old banked shed-loads of points against West Ham and Leicester across Gameweeks 31 and 32.

However, there are enough factors to justify what would have previously been viewed as an unthinkable transfer.

Salah is currently the most popular player in the game with an ownership of 61.5% – nobody else features in the majority of teams – but it will be interesting to see if that’s still the case in a fortnight’s time.

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