There was a look of disbelief on Mohamed Salah’s face as he grinned under the Anfield sun – it just couldn’t end like this.
For a moment, it all seemed very familiar. As Liverpool cruised to a comfortable 2-0 win against Crystal Palace, Salah cut in from the right with his trademark run and delicately backheeled Dominik Szoboszlai inside the penalty area.
But then things quieted down as supporters began to realize what was going on. Salah reluctantly sank to the grass, clutching his left hamstring and staring up at the cloudless blue sky, realizing that his third-to-last Anfield appearance was over, and perhaps with it, his Liverpool career.
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Highlights of the Premier League match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace.
Anfield stood up and applauded Salah, who returned the praise with a round of applause and savored the moment as he left the pitch. 439 games played, 257 goals, will this be the end?
Head coach Arne Slott expected, “I don’t know.”
Tim Sherwood summed up the sense of inevitability on Soccer Saturday. “This could be the end of him wearing a Liverpool shirt,” he said. “What a sad ending.”
Salah agreed to end his nine-year spell early, having already known for weeks that his time at Liverpool would end on May 24th. Few would have imagined that the final chapter would unfold like this, ending forcibly and not of their own free will.
“If we’re up 6-0 and we take him down two minutes before the end, he’s still thinking, ‘We could have gotten two more points,'” Slott said.
“The fact that Mo is leaving the pitch says something, but we have to wait and see how bad it is.”
Arne Slott speaks to Mohamed Salah after Liverpool winger leaves the game with injury
It’s been a tough season for Salah, highlighted by a public clash with Slott and a campaign where he struggled to find momentum. Liverpool have failed to seriously challenge for the title or win a silver medal, and Salah’s numbers reflect that slump.
His 21 goal contribution represents his lowest return for the club and is in stark contrast to the incredible 34 goals and 23 assists he recorded last season.
Salah’s injury also sums up Liverpool’s misfortune. “This is the story of our season,” Slott said.
After visiting Manchester United on May 3, Liverpool host Chelsea on May 9, ahead of what should be Salah’s big farewell on the final day of the season against Brentford, which was broadcast live on Sky Sports. He faces a race against time.
“Mo has taken very good care of his body so he will need minimal time to recover from his injury and let’s hope for the best in the final part,” Slott added.
But his Liverpool career will feel strangely incomplete unless he can storm down the right flank one last time at Anfield.
And for players who are used to writing their own endings, it will be something they will never be able to complete.
Liverpool remaining games
Sunday 3rd May Man United (a) – 3.30pm kick-off, live on Sky Sports
Saturday 9th May: Chelsea (h) – Kick-off 12:30pm
Sunday 17th May: Aston Villa (a) – 3pm kick-off
Sunday 24th May: Brentford (h) – 4pm kick-off
