Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah confirmed that the 2024-25 season will be his final one with the club, sending shockwaves through the football world. His announcement followed Liverpool's dominant 3-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday, September 1. Salah, who made history as the highest-scoring visiting player at Old Trafford in Premier League history with seven goals, was instrumental in the win, scoring once and providing two assists for Luis Diaz.
Liverpool's performance was commanding from the start, with the team showing their superiority over their arch-rivals. The scoreline could have been even more lopsided had Liverpool capitalized on some late chances. However, the post-match narrative quickly shifted from the victory to Salah's revelation about his future at the club.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, the 32-year-old Egyptian forward reflected on his time with Liverpool and his decision to leave at the end of the season. "I had a good summer, a long time to stay with myself and think positively a bit. This is my last year with the club, and I want to enjoy it," Salah said. "I feel I am free to play football -- we will see what happens next year. Nobody in the club has talked to me about contracts. It is not up to me; it is up to the club."
Salah's comments have left Liverpool fans and football pundits alike speculating about his next move. Despite his crucial role in Liverpool's recent successes, it appears that no discussions have taken place regarding a contract extension, raising questions about whether the club is prepared to let one of their greatest players leave without a fight.
Liverpool's manager, Arne Slot, who is off to an impressive start in his tenure, became only the second Liverpool manager to win his first match against Manchester United away from home, following in the footsteps of George Kay in 1936. However, even Slot was unable to escape questions about Salah's future during his post-match interview.
"There is a lot of ifs, but at this moment he is one of ours and I am really happy with him," Slot said. "I don't talk about contracts. He was impressive, like the first two games, but if you talk about an individual, you don't do justice to the other ones."
Slot also praised the team's overall performance, noting their resilience and determination. "Everything you want to see as a manager you saw in this game. There were difficult moments for us; United started really well but then we had a disallowed goal. There was no negative reaction; we kept on playing, scoring three, and could have scored more."
Meanwhile, Manchester United's manager, Erik ten Hag, was left to ponder his team's second defeat in a week following their last-minute loss to Brighton & Hove Albion. Ten Hag struck a defensive tone in his post-match comments, dismissing the notion that his team was repeating the same mistakes.
"It's not like I'm Harry Potter, that is what you have to acknowledge," Ten Hag said. "I don't think [we make the same mistakes every week], otherwise you wouldn't win trophies as we did and beat big opponents."
As the football world reacts to Salah's announcement, attention will undoubtedly turn to where his next destination might be and how Liverpool will move forward without one of their most iconic players. His departure will mark the end of an era for Liverpool, a club he has helped transform into a European powerhouse during his time at Anfield. For now, fans will cherish every remaining moment of Salah in a Liverpool shirt as he embarks on his final season with the club.
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