Mohamed Salah just showed Liverpool what it will be missing as key changes spotted at World Cup

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Mohamed Salah might not have got the goal or win he would have been craving with Egypt at the World Cup, but he did show Liverpool what it could be missing next seasonMohamed Salah captained Egypt in its World Cup opener against Belgium(Image: Getty Images)It was a strange feeling watching Mohamed Salah in his first game at this year’s World Cup, knowing that this will be the first summer for nine years in which he doesn’t return as a Liverpool player.We still don’t know what his next move will be after waving goodbye to the Reds. We just know he won’t be gracing the Anfield turf in a couple of months, despite what his international teammates might say.It’s always hard to say goodbye to a club legend, and no doubt there will have been plenty of Liverpool fans watching Egypt’s opener against Belgium just for a chance to see in Salah in action again.In truth, it wasn’t a performance that will live too long in the memory, although he did come away with an assist as his country was held to a 1-1 draw.Even if it wasn’t the most eye-catching display from the birthday boy as he turned 34, there was a glimpse of what Liverpool could have had next season - and what Arne Slot probably should have tried out before getting fired.Salah certainly doesn’t have the pace he used to, but Egypt has found a way to make it work that the Reds’ former boss simply didn’t.

Deployed in a central role by Hossam Hassan, the Pharaohs were able to utilize the qualities that haven’t left the forward yet.Mohamed Salah played a different role for Egypt compared to his time at Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)His strength and quality on the ball can’t be denied, and they were on show leading up to Emam Ashour’s superb goal, and throughout an impressive first-half for Egypt.“It was good again from Salah, nice and reliable in the build-up before the goal,” former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy commented for BBC Sport. “I know it was a simple pass, but his touch looks tight, he looks like he's fit.”Salah might not have got the goal he would no doubt have wanted, but he filled an important role for his side, bringing the likes of Ashour and Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush into the picture as Egypt came so close to its first-ever win at the World Cup.Get Liverpool's new 2026/27 home kitThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it.

Learn moreLiverpool FC have launched their new home kit for the 2026/27, inspired by iconic adidas strip worn during the club's 1989/90 title-winning campaign.There’s no reason why he couldn’t have done similar in his final year at Liverpool, and Slot should have probably recognized there was an opportunity to play a similar central role for the Reds, especially with some of the quality that would have been on offer around him at Anfield.“Egypt look like a real team who are organized, they know exactly what they need to do, they are working for each other,” Micah Richards commented during Monday’s game against Belgium.“Yes Mohamed Salah is not energetic like we know of the past but the people around him, in terms of the system, everyone knows exactly what they need to do.”Arne Slot should have tried something different with Salah at Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)That’s precisely what was not happening at Liverpool in the 2025/26 season. Rather than play to Salah’s remaining strengths, Slot stuck steadfastly to what had worked previously, but plainly wasn’t coming off anymore.Had he gone down the same route as Egypt, then perhaps we wouldn’t be seeing Salah departing this summer.