Liverpool need Mohamed Salah to make major change for Everton derby showdown

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Amid the fall-out from Liverpool's embarrassing Europa League exit to Atalanta, Jurgen Klopp was forced to defend Mohamed Salah, claiming he was "not concerned" by his poor form.

Klopp did not want to give Salah's growing number of detractors any more fuel, but the Egyptian star's play is still a worry. These few weeks after the international break are when Salah should have been firing on all cylinders for Liverpool after his hamstring injuries because he was finally back to full fitness.

But instead he has spluttered along, becoming more and more ineffectual.

Klopp made the bold call to leave him on the bench at Craven Cottage and it paid off as his rejuvenated Liverpool side beat Fulham 3-1 to record their best display for two months.

Salah's form has been disappointing since the international break and he has managed just three goals in these seven games.

Two of those were penalties and he has managed just one goal from open play against Brighton, despite having 12 shots, his most in a Premier League match.

Salah is an enigma and he has scored 24 goals this season and contributed 12 assists. That's 36 goal contributions from his 39 games for Liverpool in this campaign. Yet the Brentford game two months ago in between his two hamstring injuries was the last time he really sparkled for Liverpool.

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Salah has been ineffectual in too many games recently and Liverpool need him back on form for the run-in. Too often he stays out wide on the right and cannot beat his full-back to cut inside to launch his trademark left-foot shot towards the top corner.

This season's 2-0 derby win over Everton summed him up and he was anonymous for much of the game, yet popped up to score the penalty for Liverpool's 75th-minute opener before netting the second on the break at the end to seal victory.

The stats show he scored two goals - and he needs just two more to equal Steven Gerrard's Premier League record of nine against Everton - yet he was far from dominant.

It will be interesting to see if Klopp brings him back at Goodison Park and it was notable that Diogo Jota scored his first goal since February 10 to show his back to full fitness after his knee injury.

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Liverpool desperately need three points to keep alive their title bid, but they have won only one of their last six trips across Stanley Park. Everton would take great delight in tripping up Liverpool now they are in must-win territory and their goalless draw at Goodison in March 2019 helped cost Klopp's side the title.

Liverpool finally returned to form against Fulham after a difficult run since losing to Manchester United in the FA Cup last month. They are back in the groove and have got their energy back after a gruelling run and debilitating injury crisis.

Liverpool must win to maintain the pressure on Manchester City and Arsenal in the title race and they want to ready to pounce if they slip up.

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