Arne Slot is under growing pressure to remove Mohamed Salah from his Liverpool starting XI.
The 33-year-old joined club captain Virgil van Dijk in signing a contact extension until 2027 in the final weeks of Slot's title-winning 2024/25 season.
Salah was talismanic in Slot's debut campaign, scoring 29 Premier League goals and 34 overall, as his highest season tally since 2017/18.
Despite concerns over the Egyptian's ability to maintain his incredible level, the Reds hierarchy sanctioned his renewal but his start to 2025/26 has been sluggish after 10 games played.
Salah has started all eight Premier League matches, and one out of two in the UEFA Champions League, but with just one goal scored in either competition.
Two assists in league action - and one in Europe - has bolstered Salah's overall tally, but Liverpool's four-game losing streak could force drastic action by Slot over his No.11.
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Across those nine starts, Salah has completed 90 minutes seven times, and was only replaced in the closing minutes against Newcastle United and Manchester United.
However, his lack of output has been added to the list of reasons causing Liverpool's form slide, and club legend Jamie Carragher claimed a decision is needed ahead of facing Eintracht Frankfurt.
"I think we're at the stage now where Mo Salah shouldn't be a guaranteed starter every week," he told The Gary Neville Podcast.
"I think this is a real conundrum for the manager going forward.
"I don't think Salah should be like Virgil van Dijk where it's like; 'first name on the team sheet' - he added on Sky Sports.
"He's not playing well, he's a legendary figure, and one of the greatest players to ever play in the Premier League. But, I don't think it should be an absolute guarantee that he starts every game, especially away from home.
"I'm thinking about the next two games, Frankfurt and then Brentford on Saturday. At his age, with the way he's playing, I don't think he justifies playing every game."
Slot has dropped a hint of Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz both starting on their return to Germany but there are doubts over Salah and Alexander Isak's roles.
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