Mohamed Salah is heartbroken as he drops biggest Liverpool exit hint yet
Liverpool crashed out of the Champions League in the Round of 16 at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain, but it was Mohamed Salah’s emotional reaction at full-time that raised further questions about his future at the club.
Salah has been in outstanding form this season, and while his performances have put Liverpool on course for a potential Premier League title, their hopes of a historic treble were ended with the defeat to PSG.
The match was ultimately decided by a penalty shootout. Despite Alisson’s brilliant performance against PSG in the first-leg, he was unable to stop any of the spot-kicks, while Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones missed, sealing their exit.
Speculation over Salah’s future is already rife, with the winger yet to sign a new contract. His reaction at full-time as he left the pitch in tears, and will only fuel further uncertainty about what lies ahead for him at Anfield.
Mohamed Salah’s emotional reaction fuels Liverpool exit talk
Salah’s tearful reaction after Liverpool’s Champions League exit could be the sign fans were dreading, with the winger’s contract running down and uncertainty surrounding his future.
Salah has been linked to Al-Hilal, who recently parted ways with Neymar, so securing a player of his calibre would be a statement signing to match the Brazilian’s high-profile exit.
Liverpool, who topped the Champions League standings, might have expected to progress further in the competition, but their journey was cut short in the Round of 16.
Salah’s tears may have been in response to the disappointing exit, but they also signal the end of an era at Anfield. With Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold also entering the final months of their contracts, this is likely to be the last time all three experience a Champions League night together at Anfield.
| Season statistics | Mohamed Salah |
| Appearances | 42 |
| Goals | 32 |
| Assists | 22 |
Was this the biggest hint yet that Salah has played his last Champions League match for Liverpool? His despondent body language in the immediate aftermath of a devastating exit for the best team in Europe this season certainly strongly suggested that.
The Anfield talisman, who has been so sensational in domestic competition this season, was broken at the end as he struggled to deal with the emotions of his team’s exit and his own failings, an emphatically dispatch penalty notwithstanding.
Mohamed Salah, Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk futures unresolved
Salah’s Ballon d’Or hopes may have taken a hit following Liverpool’s early exit, but the bigger concern for the club is resolving his future—along with those of Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold.
It’s now mid-March, and Liverpool have yet to secure new deals for any of their biggest stars with rumours only intensifying after Van Dijk was caught talking to PSG leaders Nasser al-Khelaifi and Luis Campos after the game.
Losing Salah on a free transfer would be a disaster for the club. Replacing a player of his influence and quality is near impossible, and for Arne Slot, sorting out these contract dilemmas will be one of his first major challenges.
Salah’s tearful goodbye to the Champions League may not just mark the end of Liverpool’s European run this season—it could also signal the end of his legendary chapter at Anfield.