Following his pivotal contribution to Liverpool’s impressive 3-0 victory over Manchester United, Mohamed Salah made an unexpected announcement: he will be leaving Anfield after this season. Salah, who is the record holder for the most goals scored by a visiting player at Old Trafford in Premier League history with seven goals, scored once and assisted Luis Diaz twice on Sunday, helping Liverpool maintain their strong form under new manager Arne Slot.
From the start, United struggled to match their rivals, and the loss could have been even greater if Salah and his teammates had taken advantage of several late chances. Although Liverpool’s players reveled in the dominant win, it was Salah’s post-match remarks that drew the most attention.
“I had a great summer, taking time to reflect and think positively. This will be my final year with the club, and I want to enjoy it,” the 32-year-old Egyptian forward told Sky Sports. “I feel free to play football—we’ll see what happens next year. No one at the club has discussed contracts with me. It’s not my decision; it’s up to the club.”
Arne Slot, who has had an impressive start as Liverpool’s manager, became only the second Liverpool manager to win his first match against Manchester United at Old Trafford, following Bob Paisley in November 1975 and George Kay in November 1936. Despite the historic win and Liverpool’s strong performance, Salah’s future was the main topic of discussion after the match.
Slot acknowledged Salah’s contribution but highlighted the team’s overall effort. “There are many ‘ifs,’ but right now, he’s one of ours, and I’m very pleased with him,” Slot said. “I don’t discuss contracts. He was impressive, as in the first two games, but focusing solely on one player doesn’t do justice to the team. We faced challenges, such as United starting strongly, but we responded well to a disallowed goal, continued to play, scored three, and could have added more.”
In contrast, Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag was left searching for solutions after a second disappointing result, following a last-minute defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion the previous week. His frustration was clear as he addressed the mounting pressure on his team.
“I’m not Harry Potter; that’s something you need to understand,” Ten Hag said. “We don’t make the same mistakes every week; if we did, we wouldn’t win trophies or beat top opponents.”
Salah’s announcement has introduced new uncertainty into Liverpool’s season, with fans and analysts speculating about the future of one of the club’s greatest players. Meanwhile, Slot’s Liverpool continue to gain momentum, but the question of whether Salah will depart Anfield on a high note remains a key storyline for the rest of the season.
