Mohamed Salah was one of the first players to emerge from the Liverpool dressing room after Sunday’s win over Nottingham Forest.
When asked if he would like to speak, the Egypt striker declined kindly and smiled as he walked through the mixed zone and boarded the team bus. No need to stop when you start.
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It’s been more than two months since Salah gave an explosive mixed-zone interview at Leeds United, when he claimed the club had thrown him under the bus after he was left out of the starting XI for a third game in a row.
Regardless of what people think, it worked for him in a way.
Liverpool’s injury problems have certainly played a role, with the 33-year-old starting every game for Liverpool since returning from Afcon in January. Before the Africa Cup of Nations, coach Arne Slott did not start him for five consecutive games.
Sources close to the situation insist that issuing a statement on his social media channels was an option rather than giving an interview in Leeds, but Salah is furious at the way he has been treated and wants to give it his all.
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“I don’t know why, but it seemed to me that someone didn’t want me to join the club,” said Salah at Elland Road.
A week later he apologized to his teammates and shook hands with Sloter, with the Liverpool boss insisting there were no more issues to resolve. Salah headed to the Africa Cup of Nations where he thrived.
A member of the Egypt national team told BBC Sport it was the happiest they had ever seen Salah, describing it as the “best training camp” of his life.
He has been straight back into the squad since returning to Liverpool and following Liverpool’s win over Brighton in the FA Cup this month, in which he scored a goal and provided an assist, Slott singled out Salah’s performance off the ball.
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“My favorite thing is when he scores goals [which you] It’s almost expected, but he also helps the team a lot defensively, which is very positive,” Slaughter said.
Salah has improved since last season in terms of regaining possession on the pitch and in the final third.
He has two goals and four assists in his eight games since returning, but for a man accustomed to the extraordinary, key metrics are where he’s been lacking.
His last Premier League goal was back in November and if he doesn’t score against West Ham at Anfield on Saturday (15:00 GMT) it will be 10 consecutive games without a goal in the top flight. This is already the longest drought of his Premier League career.
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“He sets his own standards and they are so high that when he doesn’t score in a couple games, people are immediately surprised. That’s probably the biggest compliment he can get,” Slaughter said Friday.
Salah is truly a victim of his own standards, so his decline is deeply saddening. This season he averaged 0.56 league goals and assists per game, compared with 1.25 last season when he had the most goals and assists. Essentially, his attack output is reduced by more than half.
He also took fewer shots and touches in the opposition penalty area, while his xG (expected goals) per 90 minutes was halved from 0.68 to 0.34.
Still, the overall offensive numbers are good. Salah has scored more goals in the league (10) than the likes of Cole Palmer and Bukayo Saka, with only Hugo Ekitic (12) more at Liverpool.
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“We’re used to Mo scoring a lot of goals, and that’s probably the biggest difference in his performance. But we also know that this has happened before. I had these issues earlier on when he didn’t score three goals, when he didn’t score five goals, or I don’t know the exact number. But I also know that, at the end of the day, he’s always going to score again,” Slaughter said.
Slott’s side are still competing in the FA Cup and Champions League, and the reality is that they have a better chance of winning trophies and, along with Salah, qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
This week, his Liverpool team-mate Milos Kolquez posted a photo of Salah’s trophy case. There’s a joke on social media that Salah collects Man of the Match awards like they’re coming out of a vending machine.
There is no doubt that he is one of the greatest players in Liverpool and Premier League history. He leads the way with 283 goals in the top flight. For a guy who was initially called a one-season wonder by some, that’s astounding.
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If his contract does expire in the summer of 2027, he is likely to surpass Roger Hunt and take second place on Liverpool’s all-time scorer list. Salah currently has 252 goals, behind Hunt (285) and Ian Rush (346).
But BBC Sport understands a summer departure is increasingly likely. It ultimately depends on genuine interest and whether Salah’s wage demands can be met. Saudi Arabia and the United States are possible options, with Liverpool not wanting him to leave on a free transfer next year.
If so, the long goodbye may have already begun. In December, a week after his breakout, Salah came on against Brighton at Anfield and the reaction was overwhelmingly positive, as he is forever adored in these parts.
Remarkably, he and his family settled in the North West, admiring the British way of life.
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Deep down, perhaps only Salah truly knows whether this chapter is coming to an end. Now, he’s still smiling, happy to be back where he feels he belongs – starting a game for Liverpool.
He may have won a lot, but if these are the last few months of his life as a Liverpool player, he will be determined to add a special ending to an already remarkable chapter.