English Premier League (EPL) club Liverpool dropped some gut-wrenching news on Tuesday. The club announced that it would bid farewell to one of its longtime stars at season’s end.
According to a club announcement, Egyptian international Mohamed Salah will depart the club at the end of this season. Despite having a contract in tow until the end of the 2027 season, the two sides have decided to part ways.
The news comes as somewhat of a surprise to Liverpool fans. Salah has been a mainstay at Anfield for the past nine seasons. He’s won just about everything, including the 2019 Champions League.
Salah is currently the club’s third-leading scorer all-time with 255 tallies in 435 matches. That total puts him behind Ian Rush with 346 and Roger Hunt with 285.
The Athletic quoted the team statement announcing Salah’s departure from Liverpool.
“With plenty still left to play for this season, Salah is firmly focused on trying to achieve the best possible finish to the campaign for Liverpool and, therefore, the time to fully celebrate his legacy and achievements will follow later in the year when he bids farewell to Anfield.”
Salah will finish the season with the club. Liverpool is fifth in the Premier League this season with 49 points in 31 games. It’s unrealistic that the Merseyside squad can catch first-place Arsenal. The Gunners lead the EPL with 70 points.
Still, there’s plenty to play for, including a pass to the next round of the UEFA Champions League.
Salah and Liverpool Setting Their Sights on PSG
Salah and Liverpool have plenty on the docket this season. Their next challenge is taking on French side Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the quarterfinals of the Champions League.
Liverpool dumped Turkish club Galatasaray in the Round of 16, earning a pass to their next meeting with PSG.
Salah will be looking to continue his Champions League dominance. The striker scored his 50th Champions League marker against Galatasaray on March 18. His tally in the 62nd minute drove the dagger home as the 4-0 victory sealed a 4-1 pass on aggregate.
The cannon blast from just outside the box put the exclamation mark on what will be his final appearances in the Champions League with Liverpool.
Future Unclear for Salah
As for what the future holds for the 33-year-old, that’s an entirely different story. As The Athletic reported, the future remains unclear for Salah. There is no team purportedly on the horizon.
While there’s certainly a possibility for the Egyptian star to find a new home in the EPL after Liverpool, that’s not quite certain. A move to the MLS could also be in the cards. It wouldn’t be surprising to find American football clubs courting the free agent.
That said, a decision could come until after the FIFA World Cup this summer. Salah and Egypt will hit the pitch in Group G along with Belgium, Iran, and New Zealand.
That’s why it’s reasonable to believe that the next step following his exit from Liverpool could come following the World Cup ends. It remains to be seen what Salah has in mind moving forward.
Liverpool Bidding Farewell to Longtime Star at Season’s End