MICHAEL OWEN thinks Liverpool’s star forwards Mo Salah and Sadio Mane are NOT natural finishers.
And the ex-Reds striker thinks they have been ‘found wanting’ by their lack of clinical finishing.
Mane and Salah have scored an incredible 217 goals between them for Liverpool and helped Jurgen Klopp’s men hit incredible heights.
The star duo have fired the Reds to Champions League and Premier League glory in the last couple of seasons.
But Liverpool face an uphill task just to finish in the top four this season after Saturday’s draw with Newcastle at Anfield.
The hosts missed a string of chances and were punished by Joe Willock’s equaliser deep into injury time.
Speaking after that game, Owen told BT Sport: “That’s the problem: Mane, brilliant player, scores lots of goals. Salah, unbelievable player as well, scores lots of goals.
“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.
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HERE are Mane and Salah’s goalscoring records for Liverpool
SADIO MANE
Games: 213
Goals 94
GPG: 0.44
MO SALAH
Games: 198
Goals: 123
GPG: 0.62
“But they’ve been wanting, or the team have been found wanting a lot of the season with missed chances.”
Liverpool are sixth in the Premier League and four points off fourth-placed Chelsea with five games to play.
The Reds have no room for error and a showdown with Manchester United next, and need their star strikers bang on form.
Peter Crouch told BT Sport: “You can’t keep saying they’re unlucky.
“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.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
