It was a mildly amusing moment in an otherwise promising evening for Liverpool, showcasing Mohamed Salah’s enthusiasm for the upcoming challenges. After sprinting past the Arsenal defense to receive a precise pass from Harvey Elliott, Salah ended up on his back at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia after slotting the ball into the bottom corner to give Liverpool an early lead. Even while lying on the ground, Salah celebrated by pumping his fists in joy before his teammates helped him up.
For Salah, no match is inconsequential. He continued to make an impact by assisting Dominik Szoboszlai with the only goal in Liverpool’s opening U.S. tour game against Real Betis. Against Arsenal, Salah raised his game, frequently outplaying his defender Oleksandr Zinchenko. With a freshly shaved head, Salah looked both streamlined and robust.
Liverpool’s next fixture is against Manchester United early Sunday morning in South Carolina. Given Mohamed Salah’s strong record against their North West rivals, it’s likely the 32-year-old will make a significant impact once again. However, there is an underlying context: Salah is in the final year of his Liverpool contract, and this pre-season, along with the opening match against Ipswich Town, might be his last with the Reds.
Despite this, Salah appears undeterred and has been playing with renewed vigor following a disappointing end to the previous season. An injury sustained at the Africa Cup of Nations was exacerbated upon his return, restricting him to just six goals in the final two months. This led to a tense moment with Jurgen Klopp on the touchline at West Ham United. Nonetheless, Salah bounced back the following weekend, returning to the starting lineup to score and assist in a victory over Tottenham Hotspur.
New manager Arne Slot clearly sees Mohamed Salah as a crucial part of Liverpool’s attack. Salah’s combination play with Harvey Elliott, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Conor Bradley against Arsenal was especially notable. This season, Salah faces a new challenge as he aims to impress a new manager for the first time since Jürgen Klopp brought him to Anfield in 2017. Slot has already commented on Salah’s fitness, indicating that the player is not resting on his past laurels.
The longer Liverpool delays in finalizing a new contract with Salah, the more likely he is to leave for free at the end of the season. However, if this turns out to be his final season at Anfield, there is no doubt that Salah will continue to give his all, maintaining the same level of commitment he has shown since joining the club.
