Mohamed Salah left the Liverpool dressing room quickly after Sunday’s win at Nottingham Forest.
When asked if he wanted to speak, the Egypt striker politely declined, smiling as he walked through the mixed zone to the team bus.
It has been more than two months since Salah’s explosive interview at Leeds United, where he accused the club of throwing him under the bus after missing three consecutive starts.
The return to form
Since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations in January, the 33-year-old has started every Liverpool match. Injuries within the squad have also played a role. Before Afcon, manager Arne Slot did not start him for five games in a row.
Those close to the situation said Salah considered posting a statement on social media instead of the interview. His anger at being sidelined, however, pushed him to speak openly.
“I don’t know why but it seems to me that someone doesn’t want me in the club,” Salah said at Elland Road.
Afterward, he apologised to his teammates and shook hands with Slot, who insisted there was no lingering issue. Salah then thrived at Afcon, where a member of the Egypt national team described him as the happiest they had ever seen, calling it the “best camp” of his life.
Back at Liverpool
Salah returned immediately to the Liverpool starting XI. After the FA Cup win against Brighton this month, in which he scored and assisted, Slot highlighted Salah’s defensive contribution.
“What I like the most is he is scoring goals you almost expect, but he also helps the team defensively,” Slot said.
Salah’s off-the-ball work has improved, and his contribution in winning possession and pressing has grown compared to last season. He has two goals and four assists in eight games since returning.
Despite these numbers, his Premier League goal drought is noticeable. His last league goal came in November. If he does not score against West Ham on Saturday, he will go ten top-flight games without scoring, the longest drought of his career.
“He sets his own standards so high that missing a few games surprises people. That is the biggest compliment he can get,” Slot said.
A dip in attacking output
Salah’s current output has dropped compared to his record-breaking last season. He averages 0.56 goals and assists per league game, down from 1.25 last season. He takes fewer shots, touches the ball less in the opposition box, and his expected goals per 90 minutes have halved from 0.68 to 0.34.
Despite the dip, he still ranks highly in attacking involvement. He has more goal contributions than Cole Palmer and Bukayo Saka, and only Hugo Ekitike has more among Liverpool players.
“We are used to Mo scoring a lot, and that difference is noticeable now. But he has recovered from droughts before and will score again,” Slot said.
Liverpool remain strong contenders in the FA Cup and Champions League. Salah’s presence significantly boosts their chances of silverware and Champions League qualification.
Legacy and the future
This week, teammate Milos Kerkez shared a photo of Salah’s trophy cabinet, joking that he collects player-of-the-match awards like a vending machine.
Salah has already secured his place as one of Liverpool’s greats and in Premier League history, with 283 goal involvements in the top flight. He may surpass Roger Hunt and rank second in Liverpool’s all-time goalscoring list if he fulfills his contract until 2027. He currently trails Hunt (285) and Ian Rush (346) with 252 goals.
However, sources suggest a summer departure is increasingly likely. Saudi Arabia and the USA may offer opportunities, while Liverpool will avoid letting him leave on a free transfer next year.
Even if the end of his Liverpool career is approaching, fans will continue to adore him. Salah and his family are settled in the northwest and enjoy the British way of life.
For now, he remains happy to start matches and smile on the pitch. If these are his final months at Liverpool, he will aim to add a memorable conclusion to an extraordinary chapter.
