The sun will shine on Mohamed Salah at Anfield on Sunday and then set on one of the most dazzling careers of the Premier League era. That, of course, is assuming Salah does not sign for another English club. Considering what Anfield means to him, we can safely make that assumption.
After making only a moderate impact at four European clubs, Salah found his spiritual home nine years ago when he arrived as a 25-year-old. And he will leave as a Liverpool deity. In the run-up to his 442nd and final appearance for the club, Salah's remarks on social media about the need for a return to 'heavy metal football' have been widely discussed. And rarely can there have been such a significant disconnect between pundits and the overwhelming majority of Liverpool fans.
Wayne Rooney has not been alone in suggesting Slot should not involve Salah in the squad for the match against Brentford. You can only assume the ex-Manchester United player and staunch Evertonian was being fiendishly mischievous. If Slot leaves a fit Salah out of the squad for the final game of the season, it will be his last meaningful decision as Liverpool manager. Whether he starts Salah is another matter but he will give the Egyptian the stage on which he has strutted like no other in recent history.
The supporters will not give a second thought to the words that many ex-professionals considered a slight against Arne Slot. In fact, most - if not all - thoroughly welcomed those remarks. And those supporters don't pay to watch a manager, not even, for example, if it is someone as charismatic as Slot's predecessor Jurgen Klopp. They do not get out of their seats for antics in the technical area. It is Salah they come to see.
He will be justifiably proud of his Liverpool numbers - 257 goals, 122 assists … so far. He will be justifiably proud of his durability, of his robustness. By my calculation, Salah has only been unavailable for selection for 21 weeks of his nine years with Liverpool. Considering some of the treatment he has been given by opponents, that is hugely impressive.
But his Liverpool career has not been about the numbers - it has always been about the thrill. The supporters who will pay homage to one of the club's greatest-ever players have never gone to a stadium to watch Salah for the numbers. They have gone to watch for the anticipation. Special players generate special feelings inside a football arena. Unlike the statistics, it is hard to write those feelings down.
For a long, long time, you got it when Lionel Messi took possession. And it is no leap of belief to think Liverpool fans got that same buzz, that same expectancy, for a long, long time. That the buzz, expectancy and anticipation was ebbing away over the course of this season - and over the course of Liverpool's relatively feeble title defence - means the time is right for Salah to leave. It is best for the player, who turns 34 in three weeks' time, and the club.
But memories of his magnificence are fresh enough to get the great stadium out of its seat for one final time. The sun will set on Salah's Liverpool career on Sunday but his place in Anfield's firmament is assured.
To fully appreciate Salah's legacy, one must revisit his journey from a promising winger at Basel to a global superstar at Liverpool. He joined Liverpool in 2017 from Roma for a then-club record fee of £36.9 million. Few could have predicted the immediate impact he would make. In his first season, he scored 44 goals in all competitions, breaking the Premier League single-season goal record with 32 goals and winning the Golden Boot. He led Liverpool to the Champions League final, where they lost to Real Madrid, but the following season he was instrumental in winning the club's sixth European Cup, scoring a penalty in the final against Tottenham Hotspur.
The 2019-20 season saw Salah help Liverpool end a 30-year wait for a league title, contributing 19 goals and 10 assists as the team romped to the Premier League crown. His partnership with Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino formed one of the most feared attacking trios in Europe. Salah's ability to score from seemingly impossible angles, his clever movement, and his relentless work rate made him a fan favorite. He also became a symbol of the club's identity under Jurgen Klopp, embodying the high-pressing, fast-paced football that defined Liverpool's golden era.
However, this season has been different. Liverpool's title defense fell short, and the relationship between Salah and manager Arne Slot has been strained. Slot, who succeeded Klopp at the start of the 2025-26 season, has struggled to replicate the same intensity and results. Salah's public comments about wanting 'heavy metal football' were seen as a direct criticism of Slot's more cautious approach. While some pundits argued that Salah should not play in his final game, the fans have overwhelmingly sided with the player. They recognize that Salah's passion for the club remains undimmed, and his desire to see Liverpool play attacking football is a reflection of the values he helped establish.
Beyond his on-field exploits, Salah's impact off the pitch has been equally profound. He is a cultural icon in Egypt and across the Arab world, inspiring millions with his humility, philanthropy, and dedication. He has donated millions to charities in Egypt, including building hospitals and schools. His presence at Liverpool has given the club a massive global following, especially in the Middle East and North Africa. He has also been a vocal advocate against racism and for social justice, using his platform to speak out on important issues.
As Salah prepares for his final bow, the tributes have poured in from former teammates, rivals, and legends of the game. Steven Gerrard called him 'one of the greatest to ever wear the red shirt'. Jamie Carragher described him as 'a phenomenon who redefined what it means to be a Liverpool winger'. Even rivals like Gary Neville have acknowledged his place among the Premier League's elite. The statistics back up the praise: Salah has won the Golden Boot three times, the PFA Players' Player of the Year twice, and has been named in the Premier League Team of the Year four times. He is also Liverpool's all-time top scorer in European competition.
His departure leaves a huge void, but Liverpool fans are grateful for the memories. From his stunning solo goal against Manchester United to his clinical finishes in Merseyside derbies, from his hat-trick against Manchester City to his crucial goals in Champions League thrillers, Salah has provided countless moments of joy. The Anfield crowd will give him the send-off he deserves, a celebration of a player who gave everything for the club.
As he waves goodbye to his spiritual home, Salah's legend status is secure. He may never play for another English club, and his next destination could be the Saudi Pro League or a return to Europe. But wherever he goes, he will always be remembered as one of Liverpool's finest. The sun may be setting on his Anfield career, but the light he has shone on the club will never fade.
Source: Daily Mirror News