Liverpool supporters spotted a social media change from Salah following his omission from Arne Slot’s starting line-up in Frankfurt.
For the second consecutive Champions League fixture, Mohamed Salah found himself watching from the substitutes’ bench.
Once unthinkable, the sight of Liverpool’s No.11 left out of the starting XI has become an uncomfortable reality one that hints at a slow but noticeable shift under Arne Slot.
The Reds arrived in Germany desperate to halt a miserable run of four straight defeats, and they did so in emphatic fashion. Five goals, five different scorers, and a 5-1 demolition of Eintracht Frankfurt that not only lifted the mood but raised fresh questions about Salah’s current standing within the team.
For years, Salah has been the heartbeat of Liverpool’s attack the player you could almost guarantee would be on the scoresheet in big European nights.
But this time, the goals came from elsewhere, Gakpo, Van Dijk, Konate, Szoboszlai and Ekitike all found the net, while Salah, introduced in the 74th minute, cut a frustrated figure as he struggled to make any meaningful impact.
It’s not just the goals that are missing. The Egyptian has looked a shadow of his former self since the start of the 2025/26 season. Once ruthlessly efficient, Salah has spurned chances he would have buried blindfolded a year ago. Three goals in 11 appearances across all competitions it’s a return that tells its own story.
Last season, Salah was monumental. He contributed to 47 goals, dragging Liverpool to the Premier League title and earning himself a new two-year contract in the process. But since signing that deal, his influence has visibly waned.
His frustration was plain to see after full-time in Frankfurt, as he joined his teammates to applaud the travelling supporters,
Arne Slot has made no secret of his desire to refresh Liverpool’s attack. The arrival of Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike has added new dimensions to the frontline, while Florian Wirtz still adjusting to English football was handed a vote of confidence with a start in Germany and provided two assists on the night.
Salah, meanwhile, has paid the price for inconsistency. Slot has stressed that his decisions are tactical, but leaving out a player of Salah’s calibre for two straight Champions League games feels like something more significant perhaps a statement that no one is undroppable
Introduced with 16 minutes left to play, Salah had an opportunity to put the game to bed or at least restore some personal confidence. Instead, it was a cameo to forget. A heavy touch, a blocked shot, and one moment that drew widespread criticism when he opted to shoot from a tight angle rather than square the ball to Wirtz, who was unmarked in front of goal.
Social media quickly turned that moment into a talking point. For some, it symbolised Salah’s desperation to prove himself again; for others, it was a glimpse of the selfish streak that has always been part of his brilliance but now feels counterproductive.
To compound matters, he later deleted his X (formerly Twitter) cover photo a triumphant image of him holding the Premier League trophy and replaced it with a plain grey background.
His profile picture, once showing him lifting silverware, was swapped for a simple family photo. Small gestures perhaps, but symbolic ones, reflecting a player who seems disillusioned and disconnected.
Since arriving from Roma in 2017, Salah has delivered 248 goals and 116 assists in 413 appearances, winning every major trophy available. His consistency and professionalism transformed him into one of Liverpool’s all-time greats.
Nobody should write Salah off. His fitness levels, mentality and scoring instinct mean there’s every chance he could respond with the kind of run only he is capable of producing.
Yet, with the Africa Cup of Nations looming in the winter, the timing could not be worse for a dip in form. Liverpool will need to plan without him for up to six weeks, and others are now staking their claim to make that transition smoother.
Either way, one thing remains true: Mohamed Salah deserves patience and respect. He has carried Liverpool through darker days and never once turned his back on the club. Perhaps now, as he navigates the most testing spell of his Anfield career, it’s time for Liverpool supporters to return the favour.
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