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Arne Slot has now joined Mohamed Salah in leaving Liverpool, but the question remains — would the Egyptian forward have decided to stay and complete his contract had he known that Slot would be dismissed? Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy believes that was unlikely, telling GOAL that Salah’s influence had diminished to a point where a fresh beginning seemed the most sensible course for all parties involved.

Salah’s Liverpool career: goals and trophies

Towards the end of the 2024-25 season, Salah signed a new contract at Anfield after an outstanding campaign in which he scored 34 goals, led Liverpool to the Premier League title and claimed his third PFA Player of the Year award.

Just a few months later, however, he found himself relegated to the substitutes’ bench and publicly criticising Slot and his coaching team, accusing them of making him a scapegoat for the team’s collective inconsistencies.

That outburst seemed to signal the beginning of the end, with few surprised when Liverpool confirmed that Salah would be released from his lucrative deal in 2026, allowing him to become a free agent.

After scoring 257 goals in 442 appearances, Salah bid an emotional farewell to Merseyside. His legacy as one of Liverpool’s all-time greats is secure, but fans still wonder if there could have been more chapters left in his story at Anfield.

Would Salah have stayed if he knew Slot was going?

When asked if Salah might have stayed had he known that Dutch coach Arne Slot would lose his job, Murphy — speaking exclusively to GOAL through NetBet Football — explained: “I think the biggest factor in his departure is his form. There’s always a chance that if a player has a stronger relationship with a manager, he might stay and try to rediscover his best form in the next season.”

He continued: “I think he probably feels — as we’ve all felt — that when you can’t reach the levels you once did, it’s sometimes best to step away before things deteriorate further.”

Murphy added: “The Slot factor is certainly part of it. It would be naive to think otherwise. There’s a small chance that, had he had a closer bond with the manager, things could have been different. But honestly, I’m not sure any manager would have handled it much differently from Slot. If anything, Slot perhaps kept faith with him too long when he was struggling. Fans were calling for Salah to be rested because he was clearly out of form, but Slot continued to play him for longer than most managers would have.”

“So, regardless of the relationship, I don’t think any manager would have done much differently. The issues would have surfaced anyway.”

Salah’s farewell message to Anfield

Following his final appearance at Anfield, Salah reflected on his nine-year journey with Liverpool, saying: “When I look back, I don’t feel I wanted more than what I achieved. Not really. We won everything. The love from the fans means the world to me. Though I’ll be far away, I’ll always feel emotional when I think about this place. I hope the team keeps fighting for everything.”

What’s next for Salah? MLS and Saudi Pro League interest

During his time at Liverpool, Salah won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup, along with four Golden Boots and numerous individual honours. However, he has yet to confirm his next destination.

Clubs from Major League Soccer are reportedly keen on bringing him to the United States, potentially joining Lionel Messi, while several wealthy Saudi Pro League teams are said to be preparing massive offers to lure the Egyptian star to the Middle East.