Michael Owen claims Liverpool stars Mo Salah and Sadio Mane are ‘NOT natural finishers’ after draw with Newcastle leaves their top four hopes in the balance… despite pair netting 217 goals between them since moves to Anfield!
Michael Owen has accused Liverpool duo Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane of not being ‘natural finishers’ in the wake of their limp draw with Newcastle.
Salah struck after just three minutes but the fallen champions missed a host of other chances at Anfield and were left reeling following Joe Willock’s last-gasp leveller.
Former Reds ace Owen took aim at two of the club’s forwards after the shock result and criticised their composure in front of goal.
Michael Owen hit out at the lack of composure from Liverpool stars Sadio Mane and Mo Salah
Liverpool dropped more points in the Champions League race after drawing with Newcastle
‘That’s the problem: Mane, brilliant player, scores lots of goals. Salah, unbelievable player as well, scores lots of goals,’ Owen said on BT Sport.
‘But they’re not natural finishers, they’re not someone that you can hang your hat on.
‘They’ve scored goals consistently because Liverpool have, like today, created so many chances.
Salah netted a superb effort early on but was unable to add to his tally due to wasteful finishing
Owen (pictured) insisted fallen champions Liverpool can’t ‘hang their hat’ on Salah and Mane
‘But they’ve been wanting, or the team have been found wanting a lot of the season with missed chances.’
Liverpool have endured a nightmare campaign and their poor home form is a major factor behind their stuttering bid to get back in the Champions League.
Once again, however, the hosts carved out several golden openings, but the frontline were guilty of failing to add to Salah’s solo effort.
The talisman could have, and should have, at least notched a brace – and will take little solace in his 20th Premier League goal of the season.
Liverpool ace Salah was played through but failed to hit the target in the disappointing draw
The strike, a sharp turn following by an unerring finish, saw him also net his 123rd goal in a Liverpool shirt, moving him into the club’s top 12 all-time goalscorers.
Salah, who also closed the gap on Harry Kane in the race for the Golden Boot, needs seven more to break into the top ten.
Mane, meanwhile, was accused post-match of lacking in confidence.
Mane was also guilty of misfiring at key moments as his poor campaign for the Reds continues
The misfiring forward got away more shots than anyone else at Anfield, with six, but failed to hit the target with five of them.
Now 29, the Senegalese international has notably dropped off this season, having scored just eight goals in the top-flight.
He has netted 94 times for Liverpool across 213 appearances in all competitions, with 71 in the league, but his record this term is a stark contrast to previous heights.
Jurgen Klopp criticised Liverpool’s failure to score a second goal before Newcastle struck late
Sportsmail columnist Peter Crouch insisted on TV that ‘you kind of knew’ Newcastle would salvage a point after Liverpool’s slew of misses.
‘You can’t keep saying they’re unlucky,’ he said. ‘There’s a nervousness in front of goal. Salah’s got, what, 29 goals. But everyone else is not contributing enough.
‘Firmino looks like he’s not going to score. Mane, there’s a lack of confidence. Jota’s getting back to fitness. There’s not enough goals in midfield.’