Slot in the Firing Line as Salah's Reds Exit Becomes Fait Accompli

The writing appears well and truly on the wall for Mohamed Salah at Liverpool, with the Egyptian's exit confirmed for the summer as a free agent. Yet the fallout from his departure tells a more complex story than a simple parting of ways.

Salah's trajectory at Anfield has been nothing short of remarkable—until recently. After starring in Liverpool's Premier League title triumph last season, the 33-year-old was rewarded with a fresh two-year deal. That contract now looks destined to end prematurely, his performances this campaign having deteriorated markedly from those imperious heights.

Tensions between Salah and manager Arne Slot over playing time have simmered beneath the surface, culminating in the announcement during the recent international window that both parties would go their separate ways come summer. Liverpool's catastrophic 4-0 FA Cup quarter-final demolition at the hands of Manchester City merely underscored that the moment has arrived for a clean break.

Yet not everyone sees the situation as mutual agreement. Mohamed Aboutrika, Salah's former international teammate for Egypt, has pointed the finger squarely at Slot. "The presence of Arne Slot is one of the reasons behind Mohamed Salah leaving," Aboutrika stated bluntly. "We've seen issues in the recent period… You, Slot, pushed the man away."

Aboutrika argues that Salah's two-year contract always left the door open for an exit and that the player simply seeks to continue his career in an environment where he can operate without friction. "Salah wants to work with peace of mind and enjoy the next phase of his career. Salah doesn't need any validation from Slot or anyone else," the Egyptian added.

Former Reds stalwart Steve Nicol, however, has taken a markedly different view, training his criticism on Salah himself. Speaking to ESPN, Nicol described the forward's decline as nothing short of remarkable in its severity. "This is unprecedented," he said. "How can you go from almost winning the Player of the Year last year to this? To the fact that now you don't look as though you know where the goal is."

Nicol's dissection of Salah's recent struggles paints a picture of a player fundamentally at odds with himself. In the City encounter, Salah's early chance epitomised the malaise: with time and space available, his first touch betrayed a lack of assurance, his body positioning suggesting uncertainty rather than the swagger of seasons past.

Even penalty-taking, supposedly the most controlled moment in football, has become a window into Salah's current predicament. Nicol observed that where confidence once allowed players to scan the goalkeeper before striking, Salah now fixates on the ball itself, his entire demeanour speaking of self-doubt. "All that other stuff that you would normally do with your head up, because you're confident, has completely and utterly disappeared," Nicol remarked.

Whether Slot bears responsibility for Salah's diminished powers or the forward must shoulder the burden himself, one thing appears certain: the relationship has run its course.