Mohamed Salah‘s final season at Liverpool was his poorest by some distance, but Arne Slot didn’t help his plight.
Salah strode into the new campaign as the reigning PFA Player of the Year, having won it for a record third time in 2024/25.
On the face of it, the 33-year-old seemed as good as ever and was going to spearhead Liverpool’s Premier League title defence.
But what unfolded was a pale imitation of one of the all-time great Reds players, as he divided opinion on and off the pitch.
Started34
As Sub7
Unused3
Goals12
Assists10
Total Apps41
A tough season on and off the pitch
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Friday, August 15, 2025: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah overcome with emotion after the final whistle during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and AFC Bournemouth at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Salah started the season as we have become accustomed to, scoring on the opening day in the 4-2 win at home to Bournemouth.
It meant he had scored more goals in the first game of the season than any player in the Premier League era (10).
But the tears that streamed down his face after the final whistle as he listened to the Kop chant the name of his late friend, Diogo Jota, showed a player with far more on his mind than football.
We may never know if the tragic passing of his teammate had a big role in Salah’s season of struggle, but it surely played a part.
It was certainly evident early on that he wasn’t the force of old, with a yard of pace leaving him at some point in the months previous.
LONDON, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 27, 2025: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah reacts to conceeding Crystal Palace's second goal during the FA Premier League match between Crystal Palace FC and Liverpool FC at Selhurst Park. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
The Egyptian’s decision-making was more hit-and-miss, as was his general touch and, most worryingly, his end product dried up.
Salah scored only twice from open play in the league by the end of October – even one of those was a stoppage-time consolation at Brentford.
Salah was no doubt frustrated with his performances, and having been dropped by Slot in the early part of the winter, there was an inevitability about an eventual fallout.
Mo Salah takes on Arne Slot
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, January 31, 2026: Liverpool's Arne Slot (L) acknowledges Mohamed Salah as he is substituted off during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Newcastle United FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Like many elite players, Salah’s ego will have been hurt by being left out. It led to an infamous rant after the 3-3 draw with Leeds at Elland Road in December.
“The third time [in a row], I think for the first time in my career. I’m very disappointed. I’m very, very disappointed to be fair,” Salah said.
“I’ve done so much for this club, everybody can see through the years and especially last season. Sitting on the bench, I don’t know why.
“It seems like the club is throwing me under the bus, that’s how I feel. I think it’s very clear that someone wants me to get all the blame.”
PARIS, FRANCE - Wednesday, April 8, 2026: Liverpool's substitute Mohamed Salah on the bench before the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final 1st Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain FC and Liverpool FC at the Parc des Princes. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Salah’s words were celebrated by some but criticised by others, and they showed the first cracks in his declining relationship with Slot.
Dropping him felt harsh and pointed, with others arguably more deserving of losing their place, but that’s not to say that Salah’s displays improved.
He was as ineffective as he had been earlier in the season, clearly missing the creative magic of Trent Alexander-Arnold behind him and also not being used correctly.
This takes us to Slot, who has to shoulder some blame for Salah’s dropoff, using him in a 4-2-3-1 formation rather than the forward’s preferred 4-3-3.
He deployed him noticeably further away from the penalty area, so much so that at one point in the season, he averaged just 4.94 touches per 90 minutes in the opponent’s box compared to 9.20 last term.
In the end, he had a total of 184 touches there, compared to 393 in 2024/25.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, December 13, 2025: Liverpool's substitute Mohamed Salah on the bench before the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brighton & Hove Albion FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
With diminishing pace and dribbling skills, how was that possibly getting the best out of Salah?
He even joked with Steven Gerrard that he had “played at right-back” this season, in a subtle dig at the positions he had taken up under Slot.
There were still sporadic moments of quality from Salah, including a trademark curler at home to Qarabag and the well-taken opening goal away to Everton, but they came at a premium.
By the time the season ended, Salah had accumulated just 12 goals and 10 assists in all competitions – a far cry from the numbers he produced in the previous eight years.
He even missed three penalties in the space of three months between January and April, summing up a player who simply wasn’t the force of old.
A Liverpool legend right to the end
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah hugs team-mate Virgil van Dijk as he is substituted off on his final appearance during the Premier League match at Anfield, Liverpool. Picture date: Sunday May 24, 2026.
Salah’s announcement that he would leave Liverpool a year earlier than expected was a sad moment, but it did at least give fans time to prepare for his farewell.
The Reds’ limp end to the season wasn’t helped by a Salah injury, and his stunning social media outburst earlier this month was another nail in his relationship with Slot.
Whether he was right to speak up will always split opinion, but he was talking as someone who loves the club and could see that standards were dropping before he left.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 24, 2026: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah is emotional as he waves goodbye to Anfield for the final time after the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brentford FC at Anfield. The game ended 1-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
At times, it was sad to see Salah look human, rather than the world-beater of before, but it has done nothing to affect his iconic legacy.
He has been a credit to Liverpool, both in terms of ability and attitude, and the greatest compliment you can pay him is that he belongs in the same company as Sir Kenny Dalglish and Gerrard.
There won’t be another player like Salah for many years, and future generations of supporters will have to listen to endless tales of his genius.
Best moment: The opening goal at Everton
Worst moment: The missed penalty in the FA Cup at Man City, when his form was at a low point
Role next season: Hopefully, he will be happy at another club – just not in England, please!