Arjun Menon
The prospect of a worst-case scenario is becoming very real: Mohamed Salah may already have played his final match for Liverpool. What once felt unthinkable is now a genuine possibility, and the coming days will determine whether the Egyptian forward’s iconic spell at Anfield is approaching an abrupt end.
Should Salah depart, Liverpool are immediately confronted with two major dilemmas — the structure of his exit, and the identity of the player capable of filling the void left by one of the Premier League’s most decisive forwards.
His future has been thrown into chaos following a turbulent post-match interview after the 3–3 draw with Leeds United. Salah, frustrated by being benched, claimed he had been “thrown under the bus”, openly suggesting his relationship with Arne Slot has broken down. The fallout has been severe enough that he was omitted from Liverpool’s Champions League squad to face Inter Milan.
Slot, meanwhile, has expressed genuine confusion over how the situation has escalated so sharply. Those close to the manager describe a sense of disbelief — not hostility — as he attempts to understand Salah’s grievances.
Whether Salah truly believes there is an agenda against him or whether this is simply a breaking point in a strained relationship remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that Liverpool now find themselves dealing with a destabilising saga at the worst possible moment.
These next few days will be critical. If Salah is to stay, he will need to reverse course on his public comments. If he shows a willingness to repair the relationship, there is still a path forward. Yet as of Tuesday evening, internal sources admitted it is unclear whether Slot will restore him to the squad for the weekend’s clash with Brighton — his final match before flying out for AFCON duty.
Mohamed Salah. Source: Irish Independent
Adding to the sense of finality, Salah has hinted that his mother may attend the game, subtly suggesting this could be his farewell appearance in a Liverpool shirt.
Some within the club acknowledge that he may already have played his last match under Slot unless there is a significant shift in dialogue and attitude in the next 72 hours.
As first highlighted by Flashscore, the uncertainty has heightened expectations that Salah could be the next global star to make the move to Saudi Arabia — an outcome now viewed internally as a realistic January scenario.
The financial aspect complicates matters. With Salah out of form and now at odds with the club, Liverpool’s leverage in negotiations is weakened. Saudi clubs, previously willing to push transfer fees to extraordinary levels, have become more conservative, choosing instead to focus spending on player salaries.
A more drastic possibility cannot be ruled out: a contract termination reminiscent of Cristiano Ronaldo’s exit from Manchester United after his explosive interview with Piers Morgan in 2022. Salah’s comments, while not identical, carry a similar tone — and if relations continue to erode, Liverpool could be forced to consider an unprecedented step.
Slot must also consider the impact on his authority. Reintegration becomes challenging when a senior player publicly challenges the club’s direction. Salah, for his part, is acutely aware that a move to Saudi Arabia could earn him around £150 million per year, though he remains Liverpool’s highest-paid star at £400,000 a week.
Whether an exit strategy becomes a serious discussion will depend entirely on whether bridges can be rebuilt. For now, that looks increasingly unlikely.
Should Salah depart, Liverpool are expected to turn their attention to Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, valued at around £65 million and reportedly open to the move. But that decision hinges on what happens in the immediate future — a future that remains clouded by uncertainty.
The next few days will dictate everything: Salah’s role, Liverpool’s plans, and the direction of the January window. For now, all options remain on the table.