Liverpool once again attracted attention during the international holiday when confirming Mohamed Salah would leave the club at the end of this season.
The announcement was made just 3 days after the defeat to Brighton in the Premier League, and the timing of announcement surprised many people. However, Salah's initiative to make the information public two months earlier before the end of the season is considered a move to control public opinion surrounding his departure.
It is noteworthy that Liverpool does not seem too keen to keep the Egyptian star. Otherwise, they would not have accepted letting him leave one year earlier than the contract extension in April last year.
Although The Kop will save about 20 million pounds in salary next season, they can completely earn a much larger transfer fee if they sell Salah to Saudi Arabian clubs. This further reinforces the perception that the club's internal affairs are ready for his departure.
Coach Arne Slot may deny his role in this decision, but it is difficult to ignore the signs of cracks between him and Salah. This is considered an important factor leading to Salah saying goodbye early.
However, Salah's influence is still undeniable. He is one of the greatest strikers in Liverpool history and plays a key role in the Premier League championship journey in the 2024-2025 season.
In the current context, Slot will need to maximize Salah's ability in the remainder of the season, when this player himself is said to have felt like a "scapegoat" for the difficulties the team is experiencing.
The challenging away trip to the Etihad stadium in the upcoming FA Cup quarter-finals brings a feeling of the beginning of an end, not only for Salah but also for Slot.
Manchester City may no longer be invincible, but very few people believe that they cannot defeat a Liverpool that is declining for the third time this season. Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain is still rated higher before the first leg of the Champions League at Parc des Princes.
Of course, there is still a possibility that Slot will keep his seat if he brings Liverpool to finish in the top 5 of the Premier League, especially when Chelsea is playing unstablely. But Liverpool itself is also not in stable form, while the upcoming schedule is very harsh.
Slot may find some hope from the performance of Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike during the international break, but the key is still Salah - a player who has the ability to decide the match.
After achieving a temporary "pause" with Slot for the common good, Salah is expected to do everything to help Liverpool finish the season honorably, instead of being disappointed.
Even when the whole team's performance declined, Salah was still the player who made the biggest difference in important matches. Notably, many of his peak moments in Liverpool colors came in confrontations with Man City.
Just last season, Salah himself made a great contribution to helping Liverpool win the Premier League right at the Etihad. Ironically, at the present time, Slot has to place his trust in the team's "sacrifice" to save the season and his seat.
