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Salah has been forced to change his style, says Keown

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (right) and Paris Saint-Germain’s Juan Bernat (left) battle for the ball
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (right) and Paris Saint-Germain’s Juan Bernat (left) battle for the ball

Mohamed Salah has been forced to change his style of play after suffering injury in the Champions League final, according to Martin Keown.

The Liverpool striker was stricken with a shoulder injury when pulled to the ground by Real Madrid enforcer Sergio Ramos midway through the first half of the Kiev final in May.

Although Salah recovered in time to play for Egypt at the World Cup, he has not managed to find his blistering form for Liverpool since that injury and was substituted shortly after his error led to PSG’s equaliser in their opening Champions League game at Anfield on Tuesday.

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Former Arsenal captain Keown believes that Salah is being more tentative, but the fact that Liverpool have won all six starts when Salah has yet to find his record-breaking form, bodes well.

Keown told the Daily Mail: “Has Salah been the same since his shoulder was dislocated by Sergio Ramos?

“Ever since he has seemed to be playing within himself. He lost possession 21 times against Paris Saint-Germain and it was his mistake that led to their equaliser.

“He looks particularly reluctant to use his physicality to protect the ball. Daniel Sturridge was far more effective in that regard, losing possession just seven times.
“Is Salah concerned about picking up another injury?

“Liverpool’s main man may not be firing on all cylinders but his team-mates seem to have raised their game by an extra 10 per cent to compensate.

“The fact they have still won their first six games of the season will strike fear into their rivals.”