Liverpool’s season has turned into a full-blown saga, not because of injuries or tactics, but because their biggest star has publicly fallen out with the club. Mohamed Salah, once the face of the Liverpool project, now finds himself on the outside looking in after a dramatic sequence of events involving Arne Slot, the Liverpool board, and even former club legends. The tension has reached levels nobody expected, and the biggest question right now is simple: Can Liverpool survive without him?
It all began to unravel in early December after Salah was benched for the third straight Premier League match. The team’s form had dipped, the fanbase was agitated, and pressure was building around Slot’s leadership. Salah then broke his silence with a scathing post-match statement claiming the club had “thrown him under the bus” and used him as a scapegoat for Liverpool’s poor performances. The comment exploded across social media and dominated every football talk show for days.
The fallout was immediate. Within 24 hours, Liverpool confirmed he would not be part of the squad travelling to face Inter Milan in the Champions League. Slot publicly stated that the decision was made “for the stability of the group,” and the club hierarchy backed him. Even more shockwaves followed when Jamie Carragher, normally one of Salah’s defenders, criticised him heavily, accusing him of causing “maximum damage” and acting out of frustration rather than professionalism. That moment sent a clear message: Salah vs Liverpool wasn’t a small disagreement; this was a fracture.
Despite the chaos, Liverpool walked into the San Siro and produced one of their most emotionally charged performances of the year. The match was scrappy, full of tactical fouls, half-chances and nervous moments, but the Reds stayed alive. Then came the breakthrough: Szoboszlai converted a late penalty to seal a 1–0 win. The players celebrated together in a tight huddle. Analysts described it as a “statement win,” not because of the scoreline, but because Liverpool showed they could stay composed under pressure even without their biggest match-winner.
But that doesn’t erase the bigger conversation?
What does Liverpool look like without Salah?
The club spent the summer reshaping the squad. Darwin Núñez was sold to Saudi Arabia, Luis Díaz moved on to Bayern Munich, Diogo Jota’s tragic death last year had already left a gap, and Liverpool responded by bringing in fresh firepower. Alexander Isak arrived as the new focal point up front, and Hugo Ekitike was added to bring pace and unpredictability to the attack. Slot described the double signing as “the start of a new cycle,” signalling a future where goals and responsibility would be spread across the team instead of centred around one superstar.
In theory, the structure is promising. The midfield looks more dynamic, Szoboszlai has taken more attacking responsibility, and the younger forwards bring energy and movement that could fit Slot’s preferred style. The Inter match showed that the team can grind out results even when the attacking flow isn’t perfect. The defence held its shape, the midfield worked tirelessly, and the players looked fully committed to Slot’s plan.
But the risks are equally obvious. Liverpool still lacks the deadly edge Salah gave them. His experience, clutch goals, and ability to turn tight games into victories are not easy things to replace, no matter how many new signings arrive. Against Inter, Liverpool created very little from open play. Without the late penalty, the match was heading for a goalless draw, the kind of situation Salah has historically decided with one moment of brilliance.
There is also the emotional cost. Losing a star is one thing; losing him during a public feud is another. The dressing room will feel the tension. The fans are divided. Some blame Slot for mishandling the situation; others believe Salah crossed a line by taking his frustrations outside. These fractures don’t heal quickly, especially when the team is already performing below expectations in the league.
Right now, Liverpool stands at a crossroads. The win in Milan proves they can compete without Salah, but one victory doesn’t erase the reality that his absence removes Liverpool’s most reliable spark. If Isak and Ekitike can find consistency, if Szoboszlai continues stepping up, and if Slot settles the dressing-room atmosphere, then the Reds might turn this crisis into a genuine turning point.
If not, the Salah fallout might be remembered as the moment the season slipped away.
One thing is certain: the next few weeks will define Liverpool’s identity more than any moment since the end of the Klopp era. A new era has begun, but whether it will be remembered as a rebirth or a collapse depends on how Liverpool navigate life without the player who carried them for so many years.
