After a small montage of memorable Mohamed Salah moments, the man himself came into the picture and sat down in front of his huge trophy cabinet. After a short pause, and a deep breath that turned into a sigh, he began to speak: “Hello everyone, unfortunately the day has come.” And there can’t have been a single football fan in the world who didn’t know what that meant: Salah is leaving Liverpool.
It should have been a shock, but it really wasn’t. This fateful day had been expected – and much earlier than anyone had wanted. Less than a year ago, Liverpool’s Egyptian king sat on his throne at Anfield and confirmed that the remarkable history he wrote on Merseyside would continue. But now it has come to an abrupt end – and some seriously uncomfortable questions must be asked as to why.
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A strange feeling of acceptance
The news of Salah’s imminent exit naturally aroused a number of emotions among Liverpool supporters.
There was gratitude for everything he has given the club since arriving from Roma in 2017, sadness that he is leaving the club one year before the contract extension he signed as recently as April last year expires, and hope that he can finish on top by firing the Reds to Champions League triumph in Istanbul on May 30.
But in the midst of the immediate and inevitable outpouring of gratitude, there was also a strange sense of acceptance, a sense that this early breakup is the best for both parties.
One can certainly understand the argument. Salah is the highest-paid player in Liverpool’s history, and he has barely justified his high salary with his performances this season, as the winger has scored just five goals in 22 Premier League games. But whose fault is it really?
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“The legs are gone”
In one of several jabs aimed at Salah in recent months, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher claimed earlier this season that it looks like the 33-year-old’s “legs are gone”.
That can certainly happen to players of Salah’s age, and he certainly hasn’t looked like his usual explosive self in several games this season. He has struggled to pass or get away from opponents as he once did.
But the idea that Salah is no longer asserting himself at the highest level is absurd. It’s not even been a year since he put the finishing touches on what was perhaps the finest individual season in Premier League history, equalling Alan Shearer and Andy Cole’s record for most goals and assists in 42 appearances – in just 38 appearances.
Are we really going to believe that Salah is done? Apart from a poor penalty, he was absolutely outstanding in a 4-0 win over Galatasaray in the Champions League just last week.
“Many Could Learn From Him”
It would be absurd to claim that Salah’s departure is a purely sporting decision. Will he reach the same heights as last season? No. However, he has recorded more goals and assists in all competitions than Bukayo Saka – in eight fewer games and despite playing for a team that is disappointingly instable.
The fact is that Salah is just one of several Reds who are performing below par this season. Ryan Gravenberch has been stagnant in development, Alexis Mac Allister is unrecognizable, and the less said about Ibrahima Konaté, the better.
It is also interesting that while Virgil van Dijk has also done little to justify his own lucrative contract extension, the prospect of the Dutchman disappearing in the summer would be met with pure horror among supporters.
There is an understandable perception that the captain is let down by those around him, and that he is invaluable to the squad anyway because of his leadership qualities.
Why isn’t the same respect shown to Salah? He may not assemble the team in the same way as Van Dijk, but he is undoubtedly an inspiring figure, a commendable character who sets a professional standard that Andy Robertson quite aptly stated on Tuesday night that “many could learn from” in terms of work ethic.
It felt like a jab at some of the newer arrivals at Anfield – and it would make sense, as we’re still waiting for the majority of them to live up to the high transfer fees.
This falls on sporting director Richard Hughes and manager Arne Slot. “I actually think Mohamed Salah could have delivered for several years at a high level and one day become the Premier League’s top scorer. – That clubs are now queuing up to secure a free transfer in the summer surprises no one, at the front of the queue Barcelona.
