Mohamed Salah has not enjoyed the same prolific season that saw him spearhead Liverpool’s title charge last season, and while he is not immune from criticism, there is a counterpoint.
The disbelieving laugh in reaction to his substitution at Nottingham Forest was almost the story destined to grace the headlines on Monday, only for a late winner to cast eyes elsewhere.
Salah could have few complaints about Arne Slot withdrawing him after 77 minutes, having managed zero shots, zero duels won, zero dribbles attempted, and only one chance creation.
His opposite winger, Cody Gakpo, did not fare any better and was duly hooked, with Rio Ngumoha adding the spark and desire to run at his full-back that the duo lacked.
For Salah, it extended his run in the Premier League without a goal to nine games, with his last coming before he left for AFCON in the win over Aston Villa at the start of November.
It is a significant juxtaposition to the campaign he enjoyed last year, which saw him play his way to a new two-year contract that is now not expected to be seen out.
Mo Salah cannot avoid criticism when he is on the decline
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - Sunday, February 22, 2026: Liverpool's Cody Gakpo (L), Mohamed Salah and Milos Kerkez on the bench after being substituted off during the FA Premier League match between Nottingham Forest FC and Liverpool FC at the City Ground. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
The clamour for a new deal was a consistent theme of the title campaign, I was among those asking for one, and few can say that Salah did not deserve to be rewarded for his efforts.
Hindsight tells you a decline was on the horizon and the likelihood of replicating his jaw-dropping campaign was extremely unlikely, but Liverpool did, at least, protect some of his value.
The Egyptian could have walked last summer without Liverpool seeing a penny, and even if this season is destined to finish with his lowest-ever goal contributions, he will still demand a fee, at least from Saudi Arabia.
But what the club have failed to avoid is the struggle between Salah and Slot and the divide it has caused among supporters, with his form only compounding matters.
Mo Salah Form Comparison
Metric 2024/25 Season (Full) 2025/26 Season (So Far)
Appearances 52 28
Minutes ~4,100+ 2,276
Goals 34 7
Assists 23 8
Total Contributions 57 15
G/A per Appearance 1.10 0.54
*All Competitions includes Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, EFL Cup, and Community Shield.
In 28 appearances this season, the 33-year-old has scored seven goals and assisted a further eight. In the same number of games last campaign, he had 21 goals and 17 assists, a decline in output of 60.52 percent.
It is not say he is deadweight, far from it, as his decline is matched by Liverpool’s as a unit.
As per FotMob, no Liverpool player has created more big chances in the league than Salah (10), or won more possession in the final third per 90, and only Hugo Ekitike has more goal involvements this season.
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - Saturday, January 24, 2026: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah reacts to conceeding a last minute goal after the FA Premier League match between Bournemouth AFC and Liverpool FC at Dean Court. The game finished 2-3.(Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
At 33, soon-to-be 34, Salah has, however, seen a natural decline in the explosive speed that defined his prime years, and the struggle to beat his full-back has become more pronounced.
The loss of Trent Alexander-Arnold and the shift in dynamic at right-back has forced a change to Salah’s game, with more heavy lifting required than in his head coach’s debut season.
Ultimately, there was a reason Slot sought to name consecutive XIs without his No. 11, and, sadly, Salah has to accept that he is not the player he once was, nor the undroppable focal point.
His unwavering belief and confidence in himself is what catapulted him to the third spot in Liverpool’s all-time goalscorers list, but it is also what could taint his final few months if he, and we, let it.
Still time to appreciate Mo Salah before likely summer exit
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, January 28, 2026: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates by touching the badge after scoring the third goal during the UEFA Champions League match between Liverpool FC and Qaraba? FK at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
We can all call out Salah’s form for what it is: poor. The standards he has set give him less leniency than others, but there is a choice to be made by him and the fans.
Sadly, he is no longer the face of Liverpool’s future, and the possibility that this is his swansong season is more than a real possibility; it feels almost inevitable at this point.
That means he could have, at most, 22 games, or at worst, 14 left in a Liverpool shirt.
In some ways, it feels like an extended farewell tour without knowing if it is or isn’t, and he deserves to be eulogised from the stands for all he has given us.
3CMT86E Liverpool, UK. 17th Sep, 2025. Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates his goal to make it 2-0 during the Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid UEFA Champions League match at Anfield, Liverpool. Picture credit should read: James Baylis/Sportimage Credit: Sportimage Ltd/Alamy Live News
He will have to play his part in accepting the role he now has and the understanding that he might not be what’s best for 90 minutes or from the start.
A harsh reality, but one that does not diminish his Liverpool legend.
There will be some supporters who are disenchanted by Salah’s attitude, but it is the same one that helped drive Liverpool to silverware and had us on our feet singing his praises for nine years.
You can criticise his reaction to being subbed off at Forest, for example, but do not let it taint the last few months we may have with him in a Liverpool shirt.
Salah is averaging a goal every four games, a nod to how he has struggled in 2025/26, and that leaves the potential for perhaps only three more to come his way.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, September 17, 2025: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring the second goal with teammate Jeremie Frimpong during the UEFA Champions League match between Liverpool FC and Atletico Madrid FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
He will be remembered among the very best this club has ever witnessed, and I know I will be savouring any opportunity I have of seeing him play at Anfield, knowing the end is near.
In five years I know I’ll look back and recall he had a poor final season that also led him to lash out, but it will be a blip on an otherwise world-class career at Liverpool.
This season has been a write-off for so many reasons but, with the possibility of silverware still alive and a significant send-off potentially on the horizon, it is salvageable.
So, criticise the performance if we must, but let’s not forget to cherish the performer, because we only ever realise what we had when the shirt is vacated.