Liverpool icon Graeme Souness has sent shockwaves through Anfield by urging Mohamed Salah to leave the club this summer, claiming the Egyptian’s era on Merseyside has reached a natural end.
He believes that the former Chelsea man is the key reason for the club’s poor form this season, and his numbers are proof.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Souness said he does not see Salah getting back to his best, as he is entering the twilight of his career. He was quizzed whether the forward should consider leaving the club in the summer, and he replied with a firm ‘yes’ before adding:
“His best is behind him now, there’s no doubt about that. The first person to know that is yourself, and it happens to everyone. I don’t see the same sparkle. I think if you’re looking for the single biggest reason (for Liverpool’s shaky form), it’s because he’s not been getting the numbers.
The 72-year-old hailed Salah as the club’s main player for the last seven seasons, but does not see him getting the numbers he did in the previous seasons, and said:
“He’s been for six, seven years the Liverpool go-to man. He has completely changed games when it wasn’t going their way, and he has scored a ridiculous number of goals every season. He’s a great – a Liverpool great – but his best season is behind him.”
Salah had 44 goals and contributions last season, after a 34-goal contribution season in 2023/24. This season, the 33-year-old has 16 goal contributions in the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League together.
Time up for Mohamed Salah at Liverpool?
This time last year, Mohamed Salah was in the final months of his contract at Anfield. The club took their time before offering him a new deal, and the Egyptian was vocal about it in the media.
The forward revealed that he was keen to stay but unsure whether the club were on the same page. He ended up getting a 2-year deal at Anfield, but things have not gone as planned this season.
Salah has not hit the numbers he achieved in previous seasons, and Arne Slot’s decision to bench him earlier this season was not well-received. He hit out at the manager and the club before leaving for AFCON in December 2025, saying that they were throwing him under the bus and he had earned his place in the starting XI.
Saudi Pro League clubs are keeping tabs on the forward, with reports suggesting that Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal are keen on signing him when the season ends.
