Salah has sacrificed…

LIVERPOOL — Just a day after Mohamed Salah and Liverpool finished the 2023-24 season in third place in the Premier League, the Egyptian star expressed his commitment to the club on social media.

“We know trophies are what matter, and we will strive to achieve that next season. Our fans deserve it, and we will fight hard,” he promised.

A year later, Salah shared an image of himself on the Anfield pitch with the Premier League trophy and an array of awards after a phenomenal 2024-25 season, in which he scored 34 goals and provided 23 assists over 52 matches. This time, his success required no words — the trophies told the story.

This post summed up Salah’s journey at Liverpool as it nears its conclusion, with the club set to face Brentford in what will be his final match. After being overlooked by many following a lackluster stint at Chelsea, Salah’s remarkable consistency over nine years has cemented his status as one of the Premier League legends and a key figure in Anfield’s history.

With 257 goals for Liverpool, he ranks third in the club’s all-time scoring list behind Ian Rush (346) and Roger Hunt (285), and holds the record for the most Premier League goal contributions for a single club (283). Additionally, he’s the only player to have received the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award three times.

However, Salah’s contributions transcend mere statistics. For nearly a decade, he has embodied both Liverpool and Egyptian football on the global stage.

His iconic status among millions reflects a legacy that will endure. Wherever he heads next this summer, Salah’s narrative has already made its mark on football history.

But how did a young boy from the village of Nagrig, Egypt, rise to such heights? Here’s a look at his path to Liverpool stardom.

“Everyone knew he possessed remarkable talent”

Salah wasn’t initially seen as a star. He joined Liverpool in 2017 for £36.9 million after a successful season with AS Roma, but his challenging time at Chelsea loomed over his transfer.

Salah’s ascent involved significant sacrifices, as he traveled nine hours round trip as a teenager to train at Al Mokawloon in Cairo. His breakthrough came in 2012 when he impressed with Egypt’s under-23s during a friendly against FC Basel, leading to a four-year contract with the Swiss club.

“He arrived very shy but friendly; always smiling,” recalled Remo Meister, who was part of Basel’s communications team when Salah joined. “We knew he was a special talent.” Although Salah was raw, his incredible speed impressed fans from the outset.

His immense potential led Chelsea to secure his services for £11 million in 2014 amidst interest from multiple clubs. However, at Stamford Bridge, Salah was limited to just six starts, prompting a loan to Fiorentina in 2015, where he began to find his feet once more.

In Italy, Salah impressed swiftly, with Fiorentina’s manager Vincenzo Montella noting his speed and skill after just two days of training.

He continued to shine, joining Roma in the summer of 2015, earning praise from manager Luciano Spalletti, who regarded him as one of the best players he had ever coached.

Despite critics questioning Liverpool’s decision to pay £36.9 million for Salah, with naysayers focusing on his Chelsea past, he quickly made them eat their words.

“I try to be positive about signings, but with Mo, I had concerns due to the Chelsea situation. Still, his stats at Roma got me hopeful,” admitted John Gibbons from The Anfield Wrap. “I wasn’t ecstatic, but I was eager to see how he’d perform.”

A goal-scoring partnership that kept Pep Guardiola on edge

Salah wasted no time making an impact at Liverpool, scoring within 57 minutes of his debut in August 2017 during a 3-3 draw against Watford.

This performance foreshadowed an extraordinary season where he netted 32 goals, setting the record for the most goals in a 38-game Premier League season until Erling Haaland surpassed it with 36 goals in 2022-23.

“What can I say that you haven’t already seen?” said manager Jurgen Klopp after Salah became the Football Writers’ Association (FWA) Footballer of the Year in 2017. “His talent on the pitch is clear, but his character—humble and kind—is equally impressive.”

Salah’s approachable demeanor off the field mirrored his relentless pursuit of excellence on it, which was pivotal to Liverpool’s success under Klopp. Alongside teammates Sadio Mané and Roberto Firmino, they formed a trio that left an impression on opposing teams, including Pep Guardiola, who admitted they frightened him.

“The Liverpool forwards are superb,” Guardiola said. “They truly terrify me.”

Guardiola’s worst fears came to life when Salah, Mané, and Firmino each scored to conquer his team in a Champions League quarterfinal in 2018, heralding the start of a fruitful era for Liverpool.

In the next four seasons, Liverpool claimed six trophies, including the Champions League in 2019 and the Premier League in 2020, solidifying their status as a powerhouse in European football. Together, Salah, Mane, and Firmino amassed an incredible 338 goals, exemplifying their on-field chemistry.

While their individual prowess was remarkable, the harmonious relationship in their trio is what made Liverpool a formidable team. Firmino noted in his book that while they were not particularly close off the pitch, their combined abilities transformed Liverpool’s attacking play into something exceptional.

“It’s rare to find a group that is better collectively than their individual talents,” Gibbons commented. “Each player contributed significantly, providing assists, creating space, and keeping defenders occupied.”

The December flashpoint that foreshadowed the end

Salah’s fierce ambition has inspired many teammates, including left-back Milos Kerkez, who noted Salah’s professionalism in training and dietary habits as aspirational.

“His focus and dedication are incredible,” Kerkez said. “What he’s achieved through dedication to training is something I’m learning from him.”

However, Salah’s relentless drive has sometimes led to turmoil. One incident occurred when he was benched against West Ham in April 2024, resulting in an on-field confrontation with Klopp that caught media attention.

“If I speak, it will cause a fire,” he quipped as he left the stadium, hinting at underlying tensions.

Though Klopp’s departure post-2023-24 season averted worsening relations, the hiring of Arne Slot that summer signaled a fresh beginning. Slot’s approach allowed Salah to focus on his attacking role, leading him to score 34 goals in the following season and help Liverpool clinch another Premier League title.

“With me, you’re going to win the Premier League. I need to feel comfortable with our game style,” Salah stated after receiving the FWA Player of the Year award again. “Slot offered honesty in our conversations, promising to maximize my potential while I delivered the results.”

Despite initial promise, the relationship between Salah and Slot struggled during a challenging season. Last summer, the club faced the tragedy of losing striker Diogo Jota and his brother, significantly impacting Salah, who expressed unease about returning to Liverpool in light of his loss.

The emotional toll became evident when Salah was seen in tears as fans honored Jota during the new season’s opening match, revealing the grief impacting the team.

On the field, Salah found it difficult to replicate his past performance, facing criticism that led to temporary exclusion from the starting lineup. This culminated in a shocking interview with Norwegian media where Salah stated he felt “thrown under the bus” and his relationship with Slot deteriorated instigating further controversy.

After being suspended for a Champions League match against Inter Milan, Salah returned to play against Brighton following what sources described as constructive conversations with Slot.

Nevertheless, the December incident marked the beginning of the end for Salah at Anfield.

“Replacing someone like Salah is impossible”

It seems fitting that Salah’s remarkable career at Liverpool ends with dramatic flair. His recent social media post hinted at dissatisfaction with Slot’s tactics, calling for a return to Klopp’s “heavy metal football,” igniting significant media discussion.

While opinions about his actions vary, Salah’s legacy among fans remains intact. For countless people, he symbolizes Liverpool Football Club.

As a vital figure in the club’s resurgence under Klopp, Salah’s cultural influence parallels that of any sporting icon. The sight of him performing “sujood” after a goal has become a staple at matches, reinforcing his role during turbulent social times.

A study in the American Political Science Review found Salah’s arrival in Liverpool contributed to a 16% decline in hate crimes and diminished Islamophobic discourse in the city. In every sense, he is a phenomenon.

“It’s challenging to encapsulate Mo Salah’s impact, as it has been immense,” Gibbons remarked. “We were among the best teams globally for an extended period, with many arguing that he was the standout star. People worldwide now associate Salah with Liverpool.

“He elevated the club to another level—a task demanding incredible skill at such a prestigious establishment. Replacing someone of his caliber isn’t feasible; one can only appreciate having witnessed his journey.”

Where Salah’s next chapter leads remains uncertain. While interest from Saudi Arabia persists, it would hardly be surprising to see him aim for continued success in Europe.

Before any new adventures, Salah will receive an emotional send-off when he takes the pitch against Brentford this weekend, a farewell he truly deserves.

“I’ll give 100% and everything for the club,” Salah expressed in his first interview in 2017. “I’m thrilled to be here and determined to win for this club.”

Clearly, Salah has fulfilled that promise throughout his remarkable nine-year tenure.