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On August 23, 2026, Liverpool lined up against Newcastle United at St James’ Park for the opening day of the 2026-27 Premier League season. For the first time in nearly a decade, Mohamed Salah was not on the teamsheet, not on the bench, and not even in the building.
Salah joined Liverpool in June 2017 and spent nine seasons at the club. His departure, announced in March 2026, closed a chapter that included a Premier League title and the sort of consistent brilliance that makes fans forget what life looked like before it arrived.
The end of an era at Anfield
Salah suffered a hamstring injury in April 2026 that effectively ended his final season early. His last appearance in a Liverpool shirt came during the Premier League finale against Brentford in May 2026, though the injury had already cast a shadow over what should have been a proper farewell.
The announcement itself landed in March 2026, giving Liverpool’s fanbase months to process the news before the summer transfer window even opened.
During his time at Anfield, Salah was instrumental in Liverpool’s 2019-20 Premier League title victory, their first league championship in 30 years.
Liverpool’s new chapter under Iraola
The club’s answer to the Salah-shaped void begins with Andoni Iraola, who took over as Liverpool’s manager for the 2026-27 campaign.
What this means for the Premier League landscape
The social media reaction to the Newcastle match underscored just how significant this moment felt to the football community. Discussions across platforms focused less on the match itself and more on the symbolic weight of a Salah-less Liverpool.
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