Mohamed Salah is back in the Liverpool squad. Back on the pitch, back unsettling defenders, and back in a team that knows how to win. Yet, while his return from the Africa Cup of Nations feels familiar, the reality is anything but. Liverpool today is not the Liverpool Salah left behind—and neither is his role within it.
For years, Salah was the club’s undisputed talisman. His goals powered title charges, his brilliance defined Jurgen Klopp’s era. But under Arne Slot, the landscape has shifted. Salah remains a world-class forward, but he is no longer the axis around which everything turns. His comeback comes with questions: Can he adapt to a system that no longer revolves around him? And what does this mean for Liverpool’s future?
From Frustration to AFCON: The Rift That Sparked Debate
The tension between Salah and Slot didn’t appear out of thin air. Late last year, Salah was left out of the starting XI for the first time in years—a decision Slot framed as tactical. For Salah, it felt like demotion. His frustration boiled over in December, culminating in a very public outburst after being benched for a key league fixture. For a player who had been Liverpool’s heartbeat for six seasons, the message was clear: the team was evolving, and his status was no longer untouchable.
Then came AFCON. Salah departed for Egypt amid speculation about his future and whispers of discontent. Would he return reinvigorated or alienated? That question still lingers.
Marseille: A Return Without the Spotlight
Salah’s reappearance in the Champions League against Marseille was symbolic—a sign that bridges haven’t been burnt. He started, Liverpool won, and the unbeaten run stretched to 13 games. But the performance told a different story. Salah had 28 touches, only three inside the Marseille box, and failed to register a shot on target. His best chance—a left-footed effort after Cody Gakpo’s clever pass—was squandered.
In previous seasons, such a miss would dominate headlines. Now, it barely mattered. Why? Because Liverpool didn’t need Salah to be flawless. Dominik Szoboszlai’s inventive free kick, Jeremie Frimpong’s blistering run…
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