Mohamed Salah 'a shadow of the man that lit up' the Premier League, Ally McCoist says, as Man City dispatch Liverpool 4-0 to make FA Cup semi-finals

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TNT Sports pundit Ally McCoist labelled Mohamed Salah ”a shadow of the man that lit up” the Premier League after the Egyptian’s performance in Liverpool’s 4-0 Emirates FA Cup defeat to Manchester City. Salah, who announced last month he would leave the Merseyside club at the end of the season, missed two opportunities on the counter, as well as a second-half penalty against City.

Watch: Salah MISSES penalty as Liverpool’s nightmare gets worse

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Ally McCoist labelled Mohamed Salah ”a shadow of the man that lit up” the Premier League after the Egyptian’s wasteful performance in Liverpool’s 4-0 Emirates FA Cup defeat to Manchester City.

City dispatched Liverpool courtesy of an Erling Haaland hat-trick and a deft Antoine Semenyo finish, to qualify for the FA Cup semi-final for the eighth time in succession.

The Reds had opportunities of their own, notably through Salah, who was playing his first Liverpool game since announcing in March that he would leave at the end of the season.

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Salah, who has netted 255 goals in his nine years on Merseyside, was particularly wasteful against City, squandering two chances on the counter in the first half, and seeing a penalty saved by James Trafford in the second.

In the wake of his penalty miss, TNT Sports pundit McCoist said: ”I hate to say I told you so, but I just didn't fancy him at all. I didn't fancy him one bit.”

His co-commentator, Darren Fletcher, replied: ”What I would say is there’s been a little bit of desperation about a lot of what he's done today - snatching at opportunities. He seems desperate to make his mark.

Slot: Salah's penalty miss 'sums up' Liverpool loss to Man City

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”He knows how big the game is. He knows what's happening at the end of the season.”

McCoist added: ”Do you know something? It's a shame. Because he looks like a shadow of the man that lit up this league, lit up this country. And it's a little bit of a shame that he's going out this way.

”It's a good save. That's the first thing you've got to say. But he doesn't look like a confident man and a confident player at this moment in time.”

Salah has played a central role in reviving Liverpool’s fortunes on the pitch in his nine-year spell at the club, helping them to UEFA Champions League glory and two Premier League titles among a spate of other trophies.

However, the 33-year-old has endured a difficult campaign this term, scoring just 10 goals in 35 appearances in all competitions.

”It was difficult watching him today actually,” Joe Hart said on TNT Sports. ”We’re so used to him being a confident player and I think that first opportunity that he had, when Abdukodir Khusanov fell over, got back up and tackled him, was a real telltale in how Mo Salah was going to play today.

”We saw him walk in at half-time and he was devastated. Absolutely devastated.

”But he’s a senior player, he’s a big player for Liverpool. And obviously it will be difficult and that last game of the season when he waves goodbye will be emotional. But right now he’s got to put it all out on the pitch and score goals for his team.”

Robbie Fowler, who scored 183 goals for Liverpool, added: ”I’ve never seen a Liverpool team so devoid of confidence after starting a game so well.

”They started the game so well, then all of a sudden the confidence is gone. Case in point, Mo Salah. He had a few chances. Hugo Ekitike looked a bit slow, looked a bit laboured.

”Mo’s chances - that’s a team devoid of confidence. It’s up to the manager to try and get these players a lift because they’ve got a massive game Wednesday [against Paris St-Germain in the UEFA Champions League]. If they go into that game and play like they did in the second half here, then there’s only going to be one winner.”

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