'Greedy' Mohamed Salah accused of 'hating' Liverpool team-mate Florian Wirtz after failure to play simple assist for £116m man in victory at Eintracht Frankfurt as fans call for talisman to remain benched

Salah was named among the substitutes as Liverpool sought to snap a run of four successive losses. Arne Slot named big-money summer signings Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike in the same starting XI, meaning that somebody had to miss out in his attacking unit. Salah was only introduced in the 74th minute of the Reds’ latest European fixture.

That was enough time to fire in three shots on goal, with two of those on target, but end product has been in short supply for the legendary Egyptian forward of late. He has failed to hit the back of the net since helping Liverpool to a dramatic 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid on September 17.

He was clearly desperate to get in on the act against Eintracht, but that proved detrimental at times to those around him. Wirtz, who moved to Anfield for £116 million ($155m) in the last transfer window, is still waiting on opening his goal account for the Premier League title holders.

Salah opted against squaring for Wirtz in Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United, when the Germany international had a better angle for a shot, and ignored the 22-year-old again late on in Frankfurt. Rather than present his club colleague with a tap-in, Salah went for goal himself.

Wirtz was left visibly frustrated, as he clung onto the post, with Salah going on to hurry off the pitch after the final whistle. Liverpool supporters have been quick to ask questions of why Salah is being so selfish. @TheKopWatch posted on social media: “That’s so greedy from Salah, Wirtz is right there for his first goal ffs.” @CiebacT added: “Salah personally hates Flo, no other explanation.”

As that debate continued, @_bubblxs said: “Imagine how good we could be if Salah played WITH wirtz instead of against him.” On a similar theme, @SanchezKing13 chimed in with: “If I’m Wirtz I’m airing Salah and not passing him the ball for the next 8 games”. @LFCApproved went on to say of some lacklustre displays: “Salah has come on, thrown his arms about when it’s not passed to him, only thought about shooting and scoring for himself, never looked for a team-mate. Attitude looked poor.”

Reds legend Jamie Carragher had suggested in the build-up to a clash with Eintracht that Salah should be taken out of the firing line. He told a television audience in the United States during CBS Sports’ coverage of Champions League action: “I spoke about that last night and obviously Arne was watching. Maybe he's got a dodgy box! Punditry isn't my full-time job... I've got a little side one where I speak to the Liverpool coaching staff.

“When Mo Salah isn't being the legendary Mo Salah, he gets treated like one of the other players, which is right. He's 33 years of age and Liverpool will have three games in six days. At the moment, if he isn't at his best, he shouldn't play three games in six days. There are other options there as well. We know Liverpool have spent a lot of money. Liverpool have got a big game at the weekend as well, so great decision, Arne.”

Liverpool are still working on getting record signing Isak up to speed, after seeing him register one Carabao Cup goal through eight appearances in all competitions. Ekitike, meanwhile, now has six efforts to his name after scoring against his former employers in Frankfurt.

It remains to be seen whether Salah will be returned to Slot’s starting XI against Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday, with the Reds needing inspiration again there after slipping four points adrift of table-topping Arsenal.