Mohamed Salah has been dropped for the first time in his Liverpool career and fans are resigned to life without the Egyptian king, who could miss over a month due to AFCON before speculation grows over Saudi Arabia move
12:46, 04 Dec 2025
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 03: Mohamed Salah of Liverpool looks on from the substitute's bench during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Sunderland at Anfield on December 03, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
View 2 Images
Mohamed Salah's future at Liverpool is cause for concern(Image: Chris Brunskill/Fantasista, Getty Images)
The atmosphere was buzzing with expectation as Mohamed Salah stepped onto the pitch. With Liverpool's match against Sunderland still at a stalemate, the second half kicked off and all eyes were on Salah to save the day.
However, he found himself running into dead ends, failing to connect with teammates through crosses, and looking like the player he has now become. Once the king of Anfield, his club is now bracing for a future without him. As the game progressed, Sunderland took the lead and seemed on course for a monumental victory.
But it was Florian Wirtz, not Salah, who saved Liverpool from another devastating loss, scoring a deflected shot with just 10 minutes left on the clock. It felt like a glimpse into the future - a future where Wirtz plays a significant role, and Salah does not.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 03: Mohamed Salah of Liverpool applauds the supporters at full-time following the Premier League match between Liverpool and Sunderland at Anfield on December 03, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
View 2 Images
Salah has been dropped to the bench in successive league games for the first time in his Reds career(Image: Chris Brunskill/Fantasista, Getty Images)
Each time Salah touched the ball, there was a sense of resignation among the home fans. The once magical Egyptian king seems unable to deliver when it matters most.
In recent years, Salah has often been Liverpool's saviour, scoring countless goals, tearing apart defences, and being the driving force behind the team's success.
Now, however, he seems more like a burden for Liverpool and manager Arne Slot - a problem that Slot doesn't quite know how to handle.
Salah has been benched for the last two games, a first in his Liverpool career. But Slot's decision to keep him on the sidelines feels like a temporary solution to a long-term issue.
Slot might be breathing a sigh of relief as Salah is set to depart for the African Cup of Nations. The star player will leave for the tournament on 15 December and could be away for over a month.
Rumours are swirling that Salah may have already played his final match for the English champions, with whispers suggesting he's planning a move to Saudi Arabia in the upcoming transfer window.
Salah has kept quiet about his future plans. He's not known for regularly engaging with the press, which has fuelled the notion that he's been quietly contemplating his next steps in recent months.
However, as a respected figure in the dressing room, he has a duty to confront any criticism head-on. His status as a Liverpool legend is unshakeable, but there's no denying that his legacy is at risk of being tarnished.
Article continues below
The fact that he's leaving Liverpool (albeit we believe temporarily), without much fanfare, has led to a growing number of fans who won't be too upset about his departure.