Jamie Carragher compares misfiring Mohamed Salah to Cristiano Ronaldo as Liverpool forward looks to end barren run by piling misery on Man Utd

Salah has, having moved to Anfield in 2017, become a modern day legend in his own right. He is five appearances short of 300 for Liverpool and requires just two more goals in order to reach 250. He is a two-time Premier League title winner with Champions League and domestic cup honours to his name - along with three PFA Player of the Year awards and four Golden Boots.

Liverpool worked hard to agree an extension with their ‘Egyptian King’ over the summer, with fresh terms taking him through to 2027. More magical performances should be delivered in that time, despite the odd question being asked of his contribution at present - with the target only being found on three occasions through 10 appearances this term.

Reds hero Carragher has said in his column for The Telegraph: "Liverpool have been basking in the glow of the Mohamed Salah era for the past seven years. The next seven weeks will give us an indication as to how much longer that will last. Salah is off form, the goals have dried up, and he does not look the same player as last season. If Liverpool are to retain the title, he needs to sharpen up before December’s African Cup of Nations, thus ensuring he is as indispensable as ever to Arne Slot when he gets back. There are valid causes for concern following recent performances. There are also valuable lessons from Salah’s career which serve as a warning to those prematurely predicting a decline. Do not write off Salah too soon because he has a habit of making criticism look silly."

A meeting with arch-rivals Manchester United is next on the agenda for Liverpool and Salah, much like Portuguese GOAT Ronaldo, tends to save his best for when it matters most. Carragher added on facing favoured opposition: "Salah has similar traits to Cristiano Ronaldo with regards to his mental toughness and determination to extend his career at the top and keep chasing records and trophies. The more he is doubted, the more he responds where it matters on the pitch.

"If there is one club which will fear negative appraisals of Salah’s form more than any, it is this weekend’s visitors to Anfield, Manchester United. Salah’s record versus United is extraordinary. He has scored 16 times against Liverpool’s historic rivals. No team has suffered more against him. His all-time tally in this fixture is seven more than any player for either club, enhancing his reputation as the man for the big occasion."

Carragher concedes that Liverpool may be wondering whether handing Salah a new deal was the right decision, with every talismanic figure seeing stunning individual standards dip at some stage. He said: "With respect to all of the great players who have served [Jurgen] Klopp and now [Arne] Slot, when football historians view this period they will see Liverpool as ‘the Salah team’. He has defined it in the way [Kenny] Dalglish did in the late 70s and 80s, John Barnes the late 80s, and [Steven] Gerrard the 2000s. Like the legends before him, even a footballer with Salah’s pace cannot outrun father time. It is a question of when, not if, the greatest realise they have been caught.

"Slot left Salah out of the first tricky Champions League away game in Galatasaray. With Salah unavailable when he joins Egypt in mid-season, Liverpool must get used to being without him. Salah must start to accept he may not start every week upon his return, which is never easy for such a high-profile, world-class player. Sooner or later Liverpool must move beyond Salah and enter the era of Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz. Just don’t bet against Salah making that later rather than sooner."

Liverpool head into their home date with old adversaries United looking to snap a run of three successive defeats. Slot’s side have come unstuck against Crystal Palace, Galatasaray and Chelsea across domestic and Champions League competition, leading to them slipping from the Premier League summit in an ongoing bid to defend their English top-flight crown.