'I saw Mohamed Salah truth brutally laid bare - and his Liverpool successor is obvious'
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"You gave me the best time of my life. I will always be one of you.
Because of all of you, I will never walk alone."Nevertheless, it is inescapable that this is the right time for the two parties — Salah and Liverpool — to part ways. Though it would have been impossible to let him leave on a free at the end of last season, hindsight would suggest that would have been the best course of action.While Liverpool would have scored a significant PR own-goal by letting Salah leave after the best season of his career — and, no doubt, his absence would have been put forward as the primary explanation for this season's troubles had he not been there — the campaign has not gone to plan for anyone.Arne Slot and Mohamed Salah during the Premier League game between Liverpool and Tottenham.(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)At the same time, it is possible to celebrate Salah's achievements in the last nine years and prepare for the future simultaneously.
Though it didn't work, it was still — in a way — a glimpse of the future.Florian Wirtz's best performances for Liverpool so far have tended to come when he has been used off the left, as he was here, with Szoboszlai then able to play further forward in midfield alongside him.In front of those No.10s, effectively in a 4-2-2-2 system, there is Hugo Ekitike and then Salah. Learn moreFrom $100LFC.comSee the dealLiverpool's home and away strips for the 2025/26 season are the first in their new partnership with adidas.Fans can order jerseys in the US at Fanatics.com or via the LFC Online Store in both the US and across the world."I was hoping the same (that he would be available), but you do these things with the medical staff and the player, and we came to the conclusion that it was better for him to have a few more sessions before bringing him in," Slot told TNT Sports.When Isak is back, the plan has to be to get the Swede, Ekitike and Wirtz in the same team as often as possible, even though the best of the trio won't be seen until next season.Given that Szoboszlai being in the center is non-negotiable and Ryan Gravenberch is viewed as the future in the deeper role, that kind of set-up makes plenty of sense.In a better-functioning side, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong would be able to fly forward from full-back to offer some width, and the blueprint is clear.Losing 4-0 to anyone is hardly the time to highlight the positives, but Isak upgrading Salah will change things.