Anfield witnessed a bittersweet farewell as Mohamed Salah, with tears in his eyes, played his last match at the stadium, delivering a sublime assist that broke Liverpool’s all-time Premier League assist record in their 1-1 draw against Brentford. The 33-year-old Egyptian, who had faced speculation about being benched after recent setbacks, started on the right wing—the position he has occupied since joining from Roma in 2017.
Despite pushing hard to add to his tally of 257 goals for the Reds, Salah’s best chance—a well-placed free-kick—hit the post, denying him a moment of glory. His final contribution, however, was undeniable: a perfectly weighted cross from outside the box that Curtis Jones converted just before the hour mark, marking his 93rd assist for Liverpool.
Brentford equalized through Kevin Schade’s close-range header, but the point was enough for Liverpool to secure fifth place and confirm their Champions League qualification for next season.
Goalkeeper and defenders
- Alisson Becker (6/10): Made a crucial save against Schade before halftime but couldn’t prevent Brentford’s equalizer.
- Curtis Jones (7/10): Played out of position at right-back with composure. His well-timed run and conversion of Salah’s cross gave Liverpool the lead. His involvement in the build-up to Schade’s goal was unfortunate but highlighted his quality.
- Ibrahima Konaté (5/10): Dominant in the air and precise in passing, but earned an avoidable yellow card for a clumsy foul as his contract nears its end.
- Virgil van Dijk (6/10): Dominant as ever, but frustrated by Liverpool’s inability to keep a clean sheet once again.
- Andy Robertson (6/10): Preferred to Kerkez for his final appearance, put in a solid shift but was outmuscled by Schade for the equalizer. Received a well-deserved standing ovation alongside Salah.
Midfielders
- Ryan Gravenberch (7/10): One of Liverpool’s most energetic players, nearly scored with a powerful long-range effort in the first half.
- Alexis Mac Allister (5/10): Worked hard but lacked efficiency. Frustration boiled over with a reckless late tackle, earning a yellow card in stoppage time.
- Dominik Szoboszlai (7/10): Showed his trademark mobility, creating chances for Gakpo and Wirtz. Not flawless, but remains Liverpool’s best candidate for Player of the Season.
Forwards
- Mohamed Salah (8/10): Played with a sense of finality, his free-kick rattling the post when Kelleher was beaten. His assist for Jones’s goal broke Steven Gerrard’s Liverpool Premier League assist record.
- Cody Gakpo (6/10): Created multiple chances, including setting up Salah for the cross that led to Jones’s goal. Missed a headed chance from Szoboszlai’s cross.
- Rio Ngumoha (7/10): Showed fearless aggression, nearly scoring with a curling effort that narrowly missed the target.
Substitutes and manager
- Florian Wirtz (6/10): Returned in fine form, nearly scoring after coming on late but was denied by a brilliant Kelleher save in stoppage time.
- Jeremie Frimpong (5/10): Replaced Salah on the right wing but had little impact.
- Trey Nyoni: Unrated. Replaced Gravenberch in midfield for the final 10 minutes.
- Milos Kerkez: Unrated. Came on for Robertson late in the game.
- Joe Gomez: Unrated. Replaced Konaté in the dying moments.
- Arne Slot (5/10): Resisted benching Salah despite recent criticism and was rewarded with an assist. Liverpool’s defensive issues remain a priority for the summer.
