Once the embodiment of winning spirit and self-sacrifice at Liverpool, Mohamed Salah has now become a focal point of controversy. His selfish move against Frankfurt not only disappointed the fans, but also exposed the rift between a once-peak star and Arne Slot’s new philosophy – one where the collective is placed above the individual.
When “the Egyptian King” stopped being the orbital center
There was a time when the moment Mohamed Salah touched the ball, Anfield seemed to hold its breath. He was the icon of ambition, of explosive impact, of victory. But now what remains is the shadow of a star wrestling with his own ego and an eroding status.
In the early hours of October 23, 2025, Liverpool FC secured a resounding 5-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League group phase. It should have been a perfect night for manager Arne Slot and his squad — if not for the unforgettable moment in the 84th minute: Salah standing in front of an open goal, yet instead of passing to Florian Wirtz in prime position, he chose to shoot. The goalkeeper, Michael Zetterer, made the save. Wirtz raised his arms in frustration. The Liverpool technical area remained silent.
That one moment was not just a missed chance — it symbolized the divide between Salah and the team he once embodied. A collision of individual instinct versus collective philosophy – the very philosophy that Slot is reshaping at Liverpool.
From “absolute weapon” to tactical burden
Under the previous boss, Jürgen Klopp, Salah was given licence to do what he pleased. Every attacking move seemed to orbit around him; every build-up existed to serve the No. 11’s finish. He was the centre of Liverpool’s universe — the man capable of deciding a game in a flash.
But then Arne Slot arrived, and everything changed. His philosophy does not deify the individual. Slot builds a system where every player must integrate into a machine. His football is one of speed, structure, and sharing.
In that structure, Salah increasingly appears mis-fit. He still operates on instinct, still hunts personal numbers, still believes each opportunity is his alone — not one for the team. In Slot’s Liverpool, the team needs a cog in a larger engine; but Salah is trying to play like a solo star.
It’s no surprise that in the two most recent Champions League matches he has been relegated to the bench. Slot isn’t punishing his fitness; he’s challenging his mentality.
Salah – When form drops and belief crumbles
Twelve matches, three goals — that is the ruthless stat for a player who once made the Premier League tremble. Salah is losing himself: his pace, his scoring touch, even his connection with teammates are fading.
Former striker Troy Deeney didn’t mince words:
“That is the real Salah. He always thinks of himself first, always wants to score. But this Liverpool under Slot needs a player who can pass, who can sacrifice. Salah can’t do that.”
Commentator Adrian Durham was more blunt:
“Salah’s moment of not passing to Wirtz is a statement: he is not ready to adapt. If things continue, the bench will become Salah’s new home.”
These remarks aren’t just criticism—they are warnings. A siren for Salah himself — once exalted as the king of Merseyside, now the emblem of stubbornness.
Wirtz — the image of the new Liverpool
While Salah is faltering, Florian Wirtz is rising as the embodiment of Slot’s philosophy. He doesn’t have to score to be noticed. The German is being mentioned at Anfield for his intelligent, team-oriented play.
Two assists in the game against Frankfurt underline the difference between two eras: one represented by Wirtz — willing to drop back, share, lift others — and the other by Salah — still chasing his own glory.
Wirtz grasps what Salah appears unable to: at Liverpool now, value is not measured in goals alone, but in cohesion. That very mindset is making the 22-year-old a central piece in Slot’s system.
Time begins to call the debt of the “Egyptian King”
At 33, Salah has entered the phase where every superstar must face: time is no longer an ally. He still maintains ideal fitness, still trains diligently, still craves opportunities—but that very craving has sometimes become a burden.
He is no longer the match-winner, the man who rescues the team. He must learn to live with being the alternative. In a Liverpool undergoing daily evolution, he feels like a traveller lost in the flow of change.
Slot isn’t seeking to discard Salah, but he cannot sacrifice his philosophy for a single individual. In the Dutchman’s eyes, the club must evolve — and those who fail to adapt will be left behind.
Salah sees this more clearly than anyone. For him, more than anyone, the special treatment of the Klopp era is over. Things are different now.
The harsh truth: Liverpool has turned the page
Football is merciless. A star, no matter how great, eventually meets the law of replacement. From Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid, Lionel Messi at Barcelona, to now Mohamed Salah at Liverpool — all must accept one truth: no one is bigger than the club.
Liverpool under Arne Slot is rewriting its identity. They are no longer chained to one individual but are moving toward a more synchronized, dynamic, collective style. In that blueprint, Salah is part — not the centre.
If he refuses to change, he risks replacement. Perhaps not this season, but in the near future, Liverpool will need a player who can embed within the system, not a “King of Egypt” still living in yesterday’s shine.
The turning point ahead: Change or be forgotten
This weekend, Liverpool travel to face Brentford FC. Chances are Slot will continue to place his faith in youthful energy and versatility — names like Cody Gakpo, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Wirtz are likely to feature. If Salah sits again, it won’t be a warning, it will be a cold execution of a tactical verdict.
For Salah, the future now offers two paths: adapt — or accept being part of the past. The Egyptian star who once symbolized breakthrough now must learn to break his own limitations — the limitation of his ego.
Football evolves, and if he doesn’t, the “King of Egypt” may be swallowed by his own throne.
Conclusion
The selfish moment against Frankfurt was more than a mistake in a match, it was a mirror to Salah’s descent at Liverpool. When individual ego overtakes the collective, the hero of one era suddenly becomes a stranger in his own home.
If Salah still wants to hear the roar of Anfield as he once did, he must rediscover the player the world admired: the humble warrior, giving everything for the team — not the king dazzled by his own crown.