With tears in his eyes, Mohamed Salah bid an emotional farewell to Anfield, delivering a masterful assist in Liverpool’s 1-1 draw against Brentford. The Egyptian forward, now 33, completed his final appearance for the Reds, capping off a legendary stint that began in 2017. Despite mounting speculation over his starting role following recent criticism after the Aston Villa loss, Salah was named in the starting XI on the right wing—a position he has made his own over the years.
Salah’s swan song: a near-perfect finale
Salah’s departure became even more poignant as he narrowly missed adding to his 257-goal Liverpool tally. His best chance—a curling free-kick from the edge of the box—clattered against the post, denying him the chance to sign off with a goal. Yet, his influence remained undeniable. In the 55th minute, his pinpoint cross from outside the box found Curtis Jones, who nodded in the opener, marking Salah’s 93rd assist for the club—a new Premier League record for Liverpool.
Brentford clawed back a 1-1 draw through Kevin Schade’s close-range header, but the point was enough for Liverpool to secure fifth place and a Champions League spot. The result marked the end of an era for two club legends: Salah and Andy Robertson.
Defensive struggles and standout performances
Goalkeeper and defenders
- Alisson Becker (6/10): The Brazilian made a crucial save from Schade before halftime but couldn’t prevent the equalizer. His final Anfield appearance may have been his swansong.
- Curtis Jones (7/10): Deployed out of position at right-back, Jones shone in attack, orchestrating Liverpool’s best first-half moves. His precise run and finish from Salah’s cross put Liverpool ahead, though a defensive misstep later allowed Schade’s header.
- Ibrahima Konaté (5/10): Dominant in the air, his composure lapsed with an avoidable yellow card for a clumsy foul. His contract expiry looms large over his future.
- Virgil van Dijk (6/10): The Dutchman’s dominance was evident, but Liverpool’s defensive frailties struck again as Brentford equalized.
- Andy Robertson (6/10): Chosen over Kerkez for his final match, Robertson held his ground but was outpaced by Schade for the equalizer. Like Salah, he received a standing ovation as he left the pitch.
Midfield dynamics
- Ryan Gravenberch (7/10): The Dutchman was Liverpool’s most energetic player, nearly scoring with a long-range effort in the first half.
- Alexis Mac Allister (5/10): Worked hard but lacked efficiency. His frustration boiled over with a reckless tackle in stoppage time, earning a yellow card.
- Dominik Szoboszlai (7/10): His mobility and vision kept Liverpool dangerous. A sublime cross created a gilt-edged chance for Gakpo, and he set up another for Wirtz. Though not flawless, his season-long consistency makes him a contender for Player of the Season.
Attacking contributions
- Mohamed Salah (8/10): Salah played as if determined to leave a lasting impression. His free-kick rattled the post, and his cross led to Jones’ goal, breaking Steven Gerrard’s club assist record. A fitting tribute to his Anfield legacy.
- Cody Gakpo (6/10): Created multiple chances, including setting up Salah for the assist on Jones’ goal. His headed effort from Szoboszlai’s cross was palmed away by a Brentford defender.
- Rio Ngumoha (7/10): The youngster showed boldness and nearly opened the scoring with a curling effort that rattled the crossbar.
Substitutes and managerial insight
- Florian Wirtz (6/10): Replaced Ngumoha late and nearly snatched a winner in stoppage time, only for Kelleher to make a brilliant save.
- Jeremie Frimpong (5/10): Entered the fray for Salah but failed to impact the game significantly.
- Arne Slot (5/10): Resisted the urge to bench Salah after his recent outburst and was rewarded with an assist. Slot faces a summer of defensive restructuring to address Liverpool’s recurring vulnerabilities.
