Mohamed Salah could not leave Anfield immediately. More than 20 minutes after the final whistle in the 1-1 draw with Brentford, ending his journey with Liverpool, the Egyptian star remained silent in front of the stands to enjoy the non-stop applause from fans.
9 years, 442 matches and 257 goals - all leading to that emotional moment. Although the farewell day was prepared weeks ago, Salah still has the appearance of someone who is not ready to say goodbye. And surely he is not the only one who feels that way.
In nearly a decade wearing the Liverpool shirt, Salah has become an immortal symbol at Anfield. In response to the love of fans, he brought countless glorious moments and contributed to creating one of the most successful periods in club history.
Andy Robertson - who also left Liverpool after 9 seasons - is an indispensable part of that era. This duo is not only a big player, but also the embodiment of the period of Liverpool awakening under Jurgen Klopp.
However, football is always a harsh cycle. For new legends to appear, old icons must give way to the stage. The farewell atmosphere at Anfield became even more special when Jordan Henderson, currently playing for Brentford, received gratitude from Liverpool fans. The former captain left the club in much controversy in 2023, but time has erased everything. Last Sunday, Henderson was welcomed as part of the club's history.
The match itself does not have too much professional significance. Curtis Jones opened the score for Liverpool after Salah's 93rd assist in the Premier League - helping him surpass Steven Gerrard to become Liverpool's most assisted player in history in this tournament.
However, Kevin Schade then scored the equalizer for Brentford, closing the match with a score of 1-1. Coach Arne Slot sat quietly in the technical area after the match. The second season of the Dutch strategist at Liverpool contains a lot of pressure, and he understands that next summer will be a period of transition full of fluctuations.
Many Liverpool pillars are also facing uncertain futures. Ibrahima Konate is about to end his contract, Curtis Jones is receiving attention from Inter Milan, while Alisson Becker, Joe Gomez, Wataru Endo or Federico Chiesa are all linked to the possibility of leaving. The Kop of next season may be very different.
After the match, Salah shared emotionally: "We have brought Liverpool back to the position that the club deserves to be in. It's hard to leave this place. But that's life.
I look back at everything and don't think I can ask for anything more. We have won every title, and most importantly, the love from fans. I will always be touched every time I remember this place.
As the afternoon at Anfield gradually closed, the stands suddenly chanted in unison "it will all be fine". That was not only a song for Salah and Robertson, but also a message to Liverpool before the biggest transition summer in many years.
This is an opportunity for us to achieve specific results from this season. First of all, it will help the club participate in the Champions League for the third consecutive season. That is where we want to be present, and it is also necessary with the development model and the opportunities that a Champions League spot brings" - Slot said after the match.
