Mohamed Salah's days with Liverpool appear to be numbered. The Egyptian superstar, one of the club's all-time greats, has been left out of the starting lineup for each of the last three matches, and his training session on Monday following a post-match tirade only served as a reminder that his time in Merseyside may be coming to an end.
Salah's absence is a stark contrast to his dominance in previous seasons. With 182 goals in 306 appearances for Liverpool, he lies just behind Ian Rush and Roger Hunt in the club's all-time scoring charts. However, this season has seen him struggle, particularly on the right flank, where his inability or unwillingness to track runs has caused problems.
The switch from a 4-3-3 formation to a 4-2-3-1 system has demanded more defensive work, and Salah has been unable to provide that. His response to being dropped has been telling, with the Egyptian expressing a degree of paranoia and blaming others for his struggles. The criticism of manager Arne Slot's man-management is valid, but it also feels entitled.
The situation is a reminder that a player's performance is inextricably linked to the system they're playing in. Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Jordan Henderson were an almost perfect trio on Liverpool's right, with Alexander-Arnold releasing Salah with quick, accurate passes and Henderson offering cover in midfield. However, this coherence has been shattered this season, and the attempt to adapt to a new style has demanded more defensive work from Salah.
The death of Diogo Jota cannot be overlooked as an additional factor in Salah's struggles. His reaction to being dropped is troubling, with the Egyptian seeming to feel time sapping at him and expressing a degree of resentment towards the club. The criticism of Liverpool's summer signings appears to have been designed for a post-Salah world, but it feels like sentimental decision-making.
In the end, nobody comes out of this well. Salah's struggles are a reminder that even the greatest players can struggle, while Liverpool's handling of the situation raises questions about their man-management and transfer policy. The club must take responsibility for its own mistakes, rather than blaming others or making excuses. As it stands, it appears that Mohamed Salah's departure from Liverpool is all but inevitable.
Salah's absence is a stark contrast to his dominance in previous seasons. With 182 goals in 306 appearances for Liverpool, he lies just behind Ian Rush and Roger Hunt in the club's all-time scoring charts. However, this season has seen him struggle, particularly on the right flank, where his inability or unwillingness to track runs has caused problems.
The switch from a 4-3-3 formation to a 4-2-3-1 system has demanded more defensive work, and Salah has been unable to provide that. His response to being dropped has been telling, with the Egyptian expressing a degree of paranoia and blaming others for his struggles. The criticism of manager Arne Slot's man-management is valid, but it also feels entitled.
The situation is a reminder that a player's performance is inextricably linked to the system they're playing in. Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Jordan Henderson were an almost perfect trio on Liverpool's right, with Alexander-Arnold releasing Salah with quick, accurate passes and Henderson offering cover in midfield. However, this coherence has been shattered this season, and the attempt to adapt to a new style has demanded more defensive work from Salah.
The death of Diogo Jota cannot be overlooked as an additional factor in Salah's struggles. His reaction to being dropped is troubling, with the Egyptian seeming to feel time sapping at him and expressing a degree of resentment towards the club. The criticism of Liverpool's summer signings appears to have been designed for a post-Salah world, but it feels like sentimental decision-making.
In the end, nobody comes out of this well. Salah's struggles are a reminder that even the greatest players can struggle, while Liverpool's handling of the situation raises questions about their man-management and transfer policy. The club must take responsibility for its own mistakes, rather than blaming others or making excuses. As it stands, it appears that Mohamed Salah's departure from Liverpool is all but inevitable.
but at the same time, I think he's being a bit unfair to Arne Slot and the rest of the squad... I mean, we can't forget that Diogo Jota's passing is a huge loss, but maybe it's also a sign that Liverpool needed to adapt their system. Salah's just not getting those same vibes on the pitch like he used to, and it's affecting his game. But, like, shouldn't he be able to adjust? 
I'm all for taking responsibility for mistakes, but can't we just say that everything is a bit more complicated than that?
. Honestly, I wish the club could get everyone on the same page again, 'cause when they're all working together like that magic trio of Salah, Trent, and Henderson... it's almost unbeatable! 
i'm like super obsessed with the latest plot twist and i cant wait to see what happens next 
i swear i was on the edge of my seat the whole time, it's like they're trying to keep us guessing but also give us just enough clues to piece together what's going on 
anyway back to mohamed salah... i mean idk man i feel bad for him, he's been with liverpool for ages and he's had some amazing seasons but this year has just been really tough for him 
i think the system change is a bit harsh tho, can't they just go back to what worked before? 
. He's been one of the best, no doubt about it, but now he's strugglin' and it's like he's lost his edge. I remember when he first came to Liverpool, man, what a player! Scoring goals for fun, winnin' trophies... he was the complete package. But this season, somethin' just ain't right.
.
. The club'll miss him, no doubt about it.
. I think its unfair on arne slot, hes trying his best with the team, but maybe he needs to have a chat with salah about his attitude 
. And what really gets me is that theyre not even giving him a chance to turn things around 
. They're already looking for someone else to come in and save the day 
. Its sad, because i used to love watching salah play, he was so electrifying 
️. But now, id rather watch paint dry 
. Liverpool needs to get it together, 'cause right now, theyre just a shadow of their former selves 
but seriously can't we give salah a break? he's still an amazing player 
i mean even if he's not playing as well as before maybe he just needs a fresh start somewhere else? 
idk what's gonna happen with him now
. The system change has definitely thrown him out of his rhythm, but I think the whole thing is more than that. Salah's reaction to being dropped has been pretty telling - all this blame-shifting and whatnot 
. But this whole thing just feels... awkward. They're not owning up to their own mistakes, and now Salah's departure seems inevitable 
... He used to be on fire 
... I think Jota's departure was like a game-changer 
... Salah's reaction is like, woah 
... He's still the same player on the pitch, but off it, he's showing signs of frustration 
.
... It's time for them to take responsibility for their mistakes 
. If Salah leaves, it'll be like a part of him is leaving with him 
... But you can't blame the player if he doesn't fit into the new system 
.
️. But if it's meant to be his last season with the club, we should wish him all the best and hope he can end on a high note 
. The system change and Jota's departure have definitely thrown him off the scent, but I'm not convinced it's all his fault 
. It feels like Liverpool's trying to rewrite Salah's narrative on purpose, and that's just awkward 
.
. Otherwise, it's time for him to move on 
. Either way, I'm sad to see him go 
. He's still one of the best players in the league and people are way too harsh on him. I mean, have you seen his goalscoring record? The guy's a legend 
. The fact that he's been left out of the starting lineup for three matches on the trot is telling, but at the same time, I don't think Jürgen Klopp would drop him unless he was genuinely struggling 
. It's not like Liverpool can just keep tinkering with the team and expect results without making some serious changes 
It's like the perfect storm - Salah's struggles on the right flank, the new formation, and the loss of Jota's creativity. I get why he's frustrated, but his reaction feels a bit off to me 
it's a team effort, if anyone. Salah was an incredible player for liverpool but even the best have off days... hopefully he'll find his form again elsewhere 
. It feels like he's trying to blame everyone else for his struggles instead of just buckling down and working harder. I mean, we all have bad games sometimes, right? 
- he's been averaging around 6.4 tracking runs per match, which is way below his average of 8.5 in previous seasons 
. Meanwhile, Trent Alexander-Arnold's passing accuracy to Salah has dropped from an average of 85% last season to just 73% this season 
. According to a study by the Liverpool FC blog, Anfield Talk, the team's defensive shape and marking have been more aggressive without him, leading to more scoring opportunities for opponents 
. The 4-2-3-1 system does change things, though 
. And yeah, losing Jota was a tough blow 
. It's not like he's completely off form – 182 goals in 306 appearances is still insane 
.
... and honestly, it sounds like the whole team is feeling the pressure after Jota's passing 