Image Credits: Imago Images
In a farewell video that rocked Liverpool’s community, Mohamed Salah announced earlier this week that he would be leaving Liverpool Football Club at the end of the season.
His home for the last nine years, he has lit up English football, carving himself into the history books and building a trophy cabinet anyone on this planet would be proud of.
Signing a two-year contract extension last April after his most successful season in a Reds shirt to date, the curtain is closing on his time on Merseyside, one year earlier than expected.
It has been noted that the 2025/26 season has been Mohamed Salah’s least productive season at Liverpool but in many ways it was expected given the immense summer of change the club went through after winning the Premier League title.
The title defence has not gone to plan but despite a dip in the world-class quality we have come to expect from Salah, his legacy will live on regardless, and he will be sorely missed once he seeks new pastures this summer.
Mohamed Salah was brought to Anfield by Jurgen Klopp, and the pair oversaw a period of success that was up there with the best in the club’s history.
Jurgen Klopp departed in the summer of 2024, and Arne Slot took over the reins.
Despite winning the Premier League in his debut season in charge, it was clear that the Dutchman’s relationship with Mohamed Salah wasn’t quite the same.
Towards the end of last year, it reached boiling point.
After Liverpool dropped more points, this time to Leeds United, Mohamed Salah delivered an explosive interview after he was left on the bench, claiming that his relationship with Arne Slot had completely broken down and that he felt as if the club had thrown him under the bus.
Believing he was the scapegoat, Mohamed Salah departed for AFCON, leaving chaos behind him.
During the time he was away, Arne Slot and the Egyptian did manage to clear the air, and the winger resumed his place in the Starting XI upon his return from international duty.
Despite this, the relationship appears to still be damaged, with journalist Ismael Mahmoud detailing the true reason behind Salah calling his time at Liverpool.
In a post on X, he stated: “The relationship with Arne Slot… it became an absolute certainty: Salah and Arne Slot simply could not exist in the same team next season.”
It is clear that last summer had a profound effect on Mo Salah. The Egyptian lost two players who he got on very well with in Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz.
On top of that, he had to deal with the tragic loss of Diogo Jota, another player he was close to on and off the pitch.
The marquee signings of Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz signalled Arne Slot’s desire to guide Liverpool’s frontline into the future and Mohamed Salah’s role has become smaller as a result.
There is no doubt that Mohamed Salah will give his all for the remainder of his time on Merseyside, but there will be a belief that he could’ve stayed longer, had his relationship with Arne Slot remained a healthy one.
The relationship with Arne Slot.. It became an absolute certainty: Salah and Arne Slot simply could not exist in the same team next season https://t.co/c7PkjhS89y
— Ismael Mahmoud – إسماعيل محمود (@ismaeelmahmoudd) March 27, 2026
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