Mohamed Salah has been a talisman for Liverpool for almost eight years, and it was clear to his Anfield team-mates early on that the club had signed a truly special character
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Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool celebrate as the team bus passes through fans in celebration during the Liverpool Trophy Parade on May 26, 2025
Trent Alexander Arnold knew Mohamed Salah was going to be special at Liverpool from the beginning
(Image: Nikki Dyer - LFC, Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
We're now eight years into Mohamed Salah's Anfield tenure, and there isn't a football fan worth their salt who doesn't recognise his standing at Liverpool. While it took some time for many to truly acknowledge his skills, Trent Alexander-Arnold was quick to realise the Reds had acquired a unique talent.
Following an unsuccessful stint at Chelsea, Salah was loaned out to Fiorentina and Roma before making a permanent move to the latter in 2016. It would be another year before he returned to England with Liverpool, and it didn't take long for the then-club-record fee of £43million to look like a bargain.
Despite his difficulties at Stamford Bridge, his Liverpool colleagues quickly recognised the calibre of player they had signed. Academy product Alexander-Arnold, who recently departed Anfield for Real Madrid. shared his impressions of the Egyptian's relentless determination.
"The first day of pre-season was just a running session," he told Copa90 back in May 2018 when asked about Salah's off-field persona. "Not a race, just to see how far you can run really.
"It gets harder each lap you do so you end up doing quite a bit of running and you drop out when you can't go any further. So everyone has dropped out and it's just me and him left and he didn't stop.
"Nobody was running against him anymore and it was just that hunger to win and to just carry on. That's when I saw it. He just wouldn't stop... it just seemed his limit was above everyone else's."
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Mohamed Salah (R) celebrates scoring a goal with Trent Alexander-Arnold
Alexander-Arnold, now at Real Madrid, built a strong relationship with Salah down Liverpool's right wing
(Image: Getty Images)
Fast forward seven years, and it's safe to say that sentiment still holds true among Arne Slot's current team. Now 33, Salah played a pivotal role in leading Liverpool back to Premier League glory in his manager's debut season at the helm.
He achieved this feat by netting 29 goals in the league, earning him his fourth Golden Boot in England's top tier. Moreover, his total of 34 goals across all competitions was the second-highest of his career, only surpassed by the 44 he scored in his first season on Merseyside.
In addition, he provided 23 assists across all competitions, bringing his total to 57 direct goal contributions in 52 appearances. And having featured in every league match this season, it seems there's plenty more to come.
Much has been made about Salah's conditioning and tireless efforts to remain in peak condition. And it shows on the field as he continues to produce the kind of numbers most players can only dream of at the elite level.
Arne Slot and Mohamed Salah
The Egyptian recently signed a new two-year deal to carry on under Arne Slot
(Image: PA)
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Supporters were thrilled when the winger signed a new two-year contract with the club in April, quashing any speculation about a summer departure. Despite links with clubs in Saudi Arabia, Salah's new contract ensures his commitment to Slot's project until at least 2027.
The same cannot be said for Alexander-Arnold, who left in a contentious free transfer to Madrid this month. The full-back could potentially make his Real debut on Wednesday against Saudi side Al-Hilal, one of the clubs rumoured to be interested in signing Salah, at the FIFA Club World Cup.
Liverpool won't be participating in the competition in the United States, giving Salah an opportunity to fully rest before their league title defence. And the same praises that identified the speedster as a unique talent nearly a decade ago seemingly still hold true today.