For years Mohamed Salah came up with the magic when Liverpool needed some the most - but the 'Egyptian King' has toppled off his throne and Arne Slot must act
12:00, 20 Oct 2025Updated 12:09, 20 Oct 2025
Jeremy Cross
Jeremy joined the Daily Star in 2010 as Manchester football correspondent and for more than a decade has served as our Chief Sports Writer. He provides expert coverage on Manchester United and Manchester City, the Premier League as a whole, and the England football team. Jeremy has covered football, rugby and cricket World Cups, as well as Wimbledon, the golf majors and the Olympics.
Mo Salah
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Mo Salah has lost his mojo - and needs dropping
Mohamed Salah tends to be treated like a God in the red half of Liverpool. And so he should be, considering what he has helped the club achieve.
But his manager Arne Slot needs to start seeing him for what he is right now - a footballer who needs dropping. Because when it comes his recent performances, Salah is far from the supreme being.
Sometimes clubs have to make big decisions. And Liverpool's American owners took a huge one back in April when deciding to hand Salah a new contract worth £20m, two months before his 33rd birthday.
The argument back then was that Salah was having a stellar season, remained supremely fit and was scoring goals. But fast forward six months and none of the above still applies.
Having pocketed a huge cheque, Salah has gone on to look forlorn, uninterested and lacking in motivation. Something Liverpool bosses should have taken into consideration when committing to Salah.
Liverpool's Egyptian forward #11 Mohamed Salah (L) shakes hands with Liverpool's Dutch coach Arne Slot (R) as he is substituted during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg football match between Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) and Liverpool (ENG) at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on March 5, 2025. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)
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Mohamed Salah and Arne Slot are coming to a crossroads(Image: FRANCK FIFE, AFP via Getty Images)
He has won it all during a stellar time at Anfield. Nine major trophies, including two Premier League titles and a Champions League. There is nothing left for him to achieve, other than to build on his legend.
The same applied to Kevin De Bruyne down the road at Manchester City. Towards the end of last season, De Bruyne was another club legend well into his 30s and facing an uncertain future.
But Etihad bosses took the unenviable decision to give De Bruyne the boot. Instead of pandering to his reputation and status, chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak decided not to offer the Belgian a new deal.
It was deemed a risk, because of his age. The situation could have been handled with more class, granted, while the choice to let him go went down like a lead balloon with supporters.
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But so far it looks to have been the right one, because Pep Guardiola's team is flourishing without him, while De Bruyne is enjoying a new lease of life in the new environment of Napoli.
Salah, meanwhile, is looking stale and subdued back in Liverpool.
The sight of him trudging off at Anfield when Liverpool needed a second equaliser to avoid an unthinkable defeat to Manchester United, felt poignant. For so long Salah has been the man to provide the magic when Liverpool needed some the most.
A forward who rode to the rescue in his team's hour of need. But recent evidence suggests Salah is no longer capable. Or worse still, cannot be bothered.
Mohamed Salah looks on during a Liverpool game
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Mohamed Salah missed a golden chance against Manchester United having done the same against Chelsea(Image: Peter Powell/AFP)
Liverpool are now just one more defeat from losing five games on the spin for the first time since 1958. That's a crisis.
And in times of trouble, teams look to their leaders for inspiration. And the ultimate leader at Liverpool is Slot.
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If Slot is prepared to drop Florian Wirtz, then he should take the same attitude with Salah. His work rate isn't good enough, and he's lost his mojo when the ball is at his feet. He's now gone AWOL once too often this season.
He needs a kick up the backside, and it's not like Slot has no alternative attacking options, is it? Perhaps a wake up call would help reinvigorate an Egyptian king who has toppled off his throne.
Because if Liverpool are to defend their Premier League title this season, Slot is going to need him. Just not right now.