So because he's rich he's immune from any sort of mental struggle? Do you think he enjoys the fact that he used to be really good, and now he's quite s***e? You don't think that would have any effect on your professional pride?

I'd imagine it's pretty devastating to know you're nowhere near the player you once were, and have to prove it in front of millions of people every week.

Of course, relative to other people's problems in life it's minor, but that doesn't make it not a factor.

Then he could defer any salary until he improves.

All he seems to care about is himself and we are stuck with an underperforming expensive employee

For a few reasons he's lost the incentive and hunger to perform. That's partly his fault and partly ours with having zero competition and him possibly at times making sure he doesn't get injured.

He had it at villa but not now. You cannot provide much less than maximum effort in this league and get away with it unless you're the only choice available. He reached his peak in club prestige at Liverpool and now it's downhill. He needs to have it drummed into him he's still on a good thing, his career will be over one day and he's wasting it while it's here.

That's the modern footballer at the top level for you. Hopefully a hungry Sørloth and Wickham wake him up.

18 'very good chances' missed....imagine if he'd have scored even a third of those. ...

Bloody hell Rudi, I've found something that I'm in total agreement with you over and I think your last paragraph is our main hope of him improving.