Why Mohamed Salah's Liverpool replacement is already at Anfield - opinion
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There has already been much speculation about how Liverpool will plan for life without Mohamed Salah.Salah is departing on a free this summer, and a big gap will be left in Arne Slot’s squad when time is up on his Reds career.Seven wingers have been linked already, including big names like Yan Diomande. Is Mohamed Salah Liverpool’s greatest EVER player?
Nine years of sheer brilliance are coming to an end… Photo Credit: Getty Images/Stuart Franklin – UEFA/Michael Regan Liverpool will build around Alexander Isak after Mohamed Salah leavesThere have been many problems at Anfield this summer, but one of them has centred around Slot trying to get Isak into the XI.Granted, it has been less of an issue than it would have been had the Swede not been inundated with injury and fitness issues this term.But when 2026/27 rolls around, it is clear that no matter who sits in the dugout, Isak will be a regular starter.Liverpool are not going to spend all that money on a player and then use him as a fringe option.Yes, we’ve not seen much of him this term, but that is only because his campaign has been hindered by injury. Alexander Isak is set to surpass Hugo Ekitike as Liverpool’s main man.
Who’s ready? 🔥 Credit: Joe Prior/Visionhaus/ Getty Images But when the centre-forward initially signed from Newcastle United last year for a club-record fee, the plan was clear.With Salah already 33 and having two years left on his contract at the time, the Reds were moving away from relying heavily on the Egyptian to produce the majority of their goals.All told, he has scored and assisted 35% of the Reds’ efforts since he first signed from AS Roma back in 2017.That is a simply crazy number, and no winger who Liverpool might sign this summer can replicate that.However, if there is one man who can lead the line in the coming years and at least get close to Salah’s numbers, it is Isak.It is easy to forget just how good the striker was before he joined, with many no doubt questioning his ability because of the unfortunate circumstances of his 2025/26 campaign.But before he moved to Liverpool, Isak scored 27 and assisted six in the previous season, placing him among Europe’s elite strikers.We have already suggested a formation change once Salah leaves, and it would make the most sense if the Reds, rather than gambling on a new player, built around the ex-Newcastle man going forward.Their team, with Florian Wirtz playing as a 10 and Hugo Ekitike beside the 26-year-old, is already set up to do so. Liverpool just need to make a couple of tweaks in midfield and, once he’s fit, Isak should fly.Join Our NewsletterReceive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox