When the Egyptian King Missed a Derby: Salah's Quiet Night at Anfield

Match Snapshot

Sunday evening at Anfield was far from ordinary for Liverpool fans, as Mohamed Salah endured one of his most subdued performances since joining the Reds, in a 2-1 loss to their arch-rivals Manchester United in the Premier League’s eighth round.

Fans hoped Salah would light up Anfield after three straight defeats across all competitions, but his contribution was muted, and he was substituted late, signaling a dip in his influence on the team.

From the opening whistle, Salah looked off his rhythm, lacked his first touch, and mislaid simple passes in dangerous zones, while his understanding with Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak in the final third looked off.

As the minutes ticked by, tension grew in the Anfield stands as Salah failed to beat Diogo Dalot in most duels, with the Portuguese defender often ahead physically and tactically.

The clearest moment arrived in the box when Salah received a pass and shot from close range; the xG on the move was about 0.23, a decent chance, yet the attempt flew wide and left the crowd stunned. Curtis Jones actually celebrated thinking Salah had scored.

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher did not mince words on Sky Sports: the substitution that brought Federico Chiesa on for Alexander Isak could have been Isak or Salah. Carragher added that Salah was not at his best, and the team needed more from him after years of carrying the attack.

Clear message

Those comments encapsulated fan frustration: after years of relying on Salah as the chief source of goals and inspiration, supporters watched a faded version of the player who had once broken records in this very fixture.

British outlets were not kind to Salah; several outlets rated him around 5/10, noting he produced the most assists in Liverpool vs United history but looked far below his fabled peak, with one reporter remarking that a brilliant pass to Gakpo in the first half was not enough to save him, and he was substituted as the team needed a goal, delivering the clearest message yet.

Plainly, Salah seems to be in a dip physically and mentally, after years of continuous playing without real rest and amid packed domestic and European schedules; his sharpness in decision-making and dribbling waned, the traits that once made him one of the world’s best.

Some observers argued that Isak’s movement alongside him did not help Salah enter the gaps; others argued Salah himself did not show enough willingness to reclaim dominance.

On social media, many Liverpool fans expressed shock at their star’s level. One wrote, “This is not the Salah we know; the man looks lost and jaded.” Another said, “Salah is living in the past today; he must return to the present. He must bounce back fast.”

Some voices called for him to be benched in the next match to rest him and send a motivational message, while others defended him, noting that every player has a down spell and Salah deserves patience after all he has given the team.

When the coach finally substituted Salah for Frempong, the stadium fell silent. The moment was almost symbolic: the team captain leaving with no thunderous ovation, only quiet, troubled glances among fans worried about a fading influence from a player who once saved them in critical moments.

In a night Liverpool fans hoped to reclaim their sparkle against their eternal foe, the spotlight instead raised two big questions: what is happening to Mohamed Salah? Has the “Egyptian King” lost his scoring magic or is this just a temporary swoon before his usual return?

Punchlines

Sniper joke #1: Salah's shots were so off target tonight that even the wind asked for a re-aim.

Sniper joke #2: If Liverpool's attack had a GPS, it would keep recalculating: “Salah, turn left… again… still no goal.”