Mohammed Salah has been Liverpool’s superstar for eight years, but the start of the 2025-26 season hasn’t gone his way. Last year, he was unstoppable, scoring 29 goals in 38 Premier League games. This season, however, things look very different.
The Egyptian winger hasn’t scored in six straight matches. His struggles continued during Liverpool’s 5-1 Champions League win over Eintracht Frankfurt on October 22. Manager Arne Slot left him out of the starting lineup, only bringing him on in the final 15 minutes. Even with a few chances, Salah couldn’t find the net.
It’s a surprising dip in form for someone who has been the face of Liverpool’s success for nearly a decade. The 33-year-old also missed a big opportunity to equalise in front of the Kop during Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United just days before the Frankfurt match.
Liverpool as a whole hasn’t looked as sharp either. Before that Champions League win, they had lost four games in a row across all competitions, including Premier League defeats to Crystal Palace, Chelsea, and Manchester United, all ending 2-1.
With pressure mounting, Arne Slot made bold choices. He switched to a 4-2-2-2 formation and paired Alexander Isak with Hugo Ekitike in attack for the first time. The gamble paid off, and Liverpool finally returned to winning ways. But it also raised a big question.
Will Salah stay on the bench when Liverpool travels to Brentford on October 25?
Salah recently signed a two-year contract extension, even though many believed this season would be his last at Anfield. Now, his place in the starting lineup is uncertain, and his confidence appears shaken. Being benched could either push him to fight harder or make his struggles even worse.
For now, Slot may stick with the same setup that worked against Frankfurt. But with Isak reportedly picking up an injury, Salah could get his chance to return to the starting XI. If that happens, it might be the perfect opportunity for him to remind everyone that he’s still Liverpool’s main man, and far from finished.
