LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, April 25, 2026: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, April 25, 2026: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
A new report has suggested that “not so long ago,” Mo Salah hadn’t completely given up on staying at Liverpool, despite announcing his exit in March.
Amid disappointing form and a broken relationship with Arne Slot, Salah announced he would be leaving Liverpool after nine seasons at Anfield.
The 33-year-old’s deal was set to expire in 2027, but he decided to mutually terminate his contract to allow a departure at the end of the season.
However, “not so long ago, some of Salah’s associates in Egypt were quietly suggesting he had not totally given up on the idea of remaining at Liverpool, despite recent announcements,” wrote the Athletic‘s Simon Hughes.
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - Friday, May 15, 2026: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah reacts to conceding their side's fourth goal during the FA Premier League match between Aston Villa FC and Liverpool FC at Villa Park. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - Friday, May 15, 2026: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah reacts to conceding their side's fourth goal during the FA Premier League match between Aston Villa FC and Liverpool FC at Villa Park. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
It would be a major surprise if the Egyptian were to remain at Liverpool after a drawn-out farewell that will culminate with a send-off on the final day at Anfield.
For there to be any major U-turn, Hughes explained that “a regime change would be needed — starting with Slot, but also in conjunction with departures of the directors who have confidence in him.”
Why is Mo Salah leaving Liverpool?
It has been fairly obvious from the outset that Salah’s breakdown in relationship with Slot has been the driving factor behind his early exit.
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - Friday, May 15, 2026: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson on the pitch for their final two games for the club before the FA Premier League match between Aston Villa FC and Liverpool FC at Villa Park. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - Friday, May 15, 2026: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson on the pitch for their final two games for the club before the FA Premier League match between Aston Villa FC and Liverpool FC at Villa Park. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
While most would agree that he must take some individual responsibility for his drop in form from last season to this, Salah’s decline has arguably been accelerated by the coach’s struggles.
Back in early December, the winger stopped in the Elland Road mixed zone to tell reporters:
“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.
“The club made a lot of promises to me in the summer and so far I’m on the bench three games, so I can’t say that they’ve kept their promise.
“I said before I had a good relationship with the manager and all of a sudden we don’t have any relationship. I don’t know why.
“It seems to me, I would say, that someone doesn’t want me in the club.”
From that point on, it always felt like an exit would be inevitable.
While Slot and Salah patched things up enough to see the player come back into the team, he clearly still has problems with the way things are at Liverpool.
After the Reds’ 4-2 defeat against Aston Villa, he appeared to criticise Slot while giving his opinion on the team’s shortcomings.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, April 14, 2026: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah during the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final 2nd Leg match between Liverpool FC and Paris Saint-Germain FC at Anfield. PSG won 2-0 on the night, 4-0 on aggregate. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, April 14, 2026: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah during the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final 2nd Leg match between Liverpool FC and Paris Saint-Germain FC at Anfield. PSG won 2-0 on the night, 4-0 on aggregate. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“Us crumbling to yet another defeat this season was very painful and not what our fans deserve,” Salah wrote on social media.
“I want to see Liverpool go back to being the heavy metal attacking team that opponents fear and back to being a team that wins trophies.
“That is the football I know how to play and that is the identity that needs to be recovered and kept for good. It cannot be negotiable and everyone that joins this club should adapt to it.”
While some fans would happily see Slot leave for Salah to stay, things aren’t as black and white as that; there have clearly been problems with figures higher up than Slot – most likely Sporting Director Richard Hughes and FSG’s CEO of Football, Michael Edwards.
It also must be remembered that Salah is not the player he was 18 months ago and is the highest-paid player at the club.
While many may agree with what he is saying regarding the team’s identity, Salah himself may not fit into that way of playing anymore.
Football – UEFA Champions League – League Phase – Olympique de Marseille v Liverpool FC
Football – UEFA Champions League – League Phase – Olympique de Marseille v Liverpool FC
adidas liverpool
adidas liverpool
Salah, Rooney circle collage
Salah, Rooney circle collage