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Salah’s injury could help Liverpool prepare for next season

The amount of time Mohamed Salah lingered before trudging off the pitch suggested Saturday might have been the Egyptian’s Anfield appearance as a Liverpool player. Substituted in the 59th minute of the Reds’ home game against Crystal Palace with an apparent leg injury, Sakah made a point of applauding the fans that have idolised him for the last nine years.

“We have to wait and see how his injury is and if he is able to return to play,” said Arne Slot afterwards. “What I do know about Mo is throughout all of these years he has taken such good care of his body that he will have the minimum time required to recover from an injury. Let’s hope for the best and that he is available in the last part [of the season].”

The cruelty in a season-ending injury for Salah would be in the timing. Not only would it bring down the curtain on the Egyptian’s Liverpool career earlier than expected, there had been signs recently that Salah had rediscovered something closer to his best form. He was contributing again.

Indeed, Salah entered Saturday’s meeting with Crystal Palace on a run of three goals in his last five appearances in all competitions. Slot would surely like to have Salah available for the final few weeks of the season, especially with Liverpool still chasing a top five place and Champions League qualification.

If, however, Salah has played his final game for the Merseyside club, there will be a silver lining. This will give Liverpool a headstart on preparing for next season. Life after Salah will present a number of challenges and the last few matches of the 2025/26 campaign could provide a preview of what those are likely to be.

Salah isn’t the only big-name attacker possibly set for a period on the sidelines. Hugo Ekitike is also out until the end of the season and beyond with the French forward recently sustaining a serious achilles injury. Liverpool will miss the pair in the attacking third of the pitch.

Alexander Isak will now receive a lot of game time between now and the end of the season. The 2025/16 campaign has been a write off for the Swedish striker, but Saturday’s game against Palace saw him find the back of the net and look more like the player that convinced Liverpool to pay a record fee to sign him in the first place.

Coming up with a Plan B to compensate for Salah’s absence will be trickier considering Liverpool lack another natural right-sided winger. Rio Ngumoha has made his breakthrough on the left side of the attack, but Salah was the only wide forward capable of operating on the other wing.

One way or another, Jeremie Frimpong could be the solution. The Dutch international has been played as a winger more than once this season despite the fact he was signed to be Trent Alexander-Arnold’s replacement at right back. Slot could use Frimpong in an advanced position.

Alternatively, slot could shift formation and deploy Frimpong in the right wing back role he played for Bayer Leverkusen. This would require Liverpool to play with a third centre back and find a second centre forward, but it would allow them to mask the lack of a natural right winger.

Liverpool are approaching a crossroads. Salah is leaving and Slot’s future as manager is still up in the air. There are some big decisions to be made before the start of next season and the next few weeks will be crucial in determining the direction of the Anfield club going forward.