Mohamed Salah (Liverpool FC) looks on during the Champions League group game between Eintracht Frankfurt and Liverpool FC at the Deutsche Bank Park, Frankfurt, Germany, on October 22, 2025. (Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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Liverpool needed to produce a response and it did by ending its four-game losing run with an emphatic 5-1 thrashing of Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League. Arne Slot’s side looked back to its best as the English champions put the Bundesliga outfit to the sword, but did so with Mohamed Salah on the bench.
On one hand, it was unsurprising to see Salah out of the Liverpool lineup for the match away to Frankfurt. The Egyptian has been out of form recently, scoring just two goals in eight Premier League appearances. Against Manchester United last weekend, Salah was extremely wasteful in front of goal.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 19: Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield on October 19, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
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Without Salah on the right wing, Slot set up Liverpool to use Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak as a front two. This allowed the pair to operate in their best position through the middle with Ekitike especially eye-catching as he found the back of the net to equalise in the first half of the game.
Ekitike and Isak’s partnership was supported by Florian Wirtz who had the freedom to drift and find space all over the field. The German playmaker had his best match in a Liverpool jersey, producing two assists as Eintracht Frankfurt struggled to get to grips with the $150m man. This was Wirtz at his best.
To compensate for the loss of a natural right winger like Salah, Slot played Jeremie Frimpong to maintain the width on that side of the pitch. It was a role that suited the Dutch international who had great success as a right wing back for Xabi Alonso’s title-winning Bayer Leverkusen side.
FRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY – OCTOBER 22: Mohamed Salah of Liverpool FC in action during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD3 match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Liverpool FC at Frankfurt Stadion on October 22, 2025 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. (Photo by Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images)
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In many ways, it seems Liverpool have transitioned into a post-Salah age. The only problem is the club signed the 33-year-old to a new contract earlier this year after months of intense speculation. On the basis of what we have seen this season, Liverpool might have been better letting him leave.
“The main thing is that he always has scored goals for Liverpool,” said Slot when asked about Salah’s recent underwhelming form. Slot replied when asked about Salah’s form. “The last thing I worry about is Mo scoring goals again. He’s done that his entire life and I expect him to do that again in the upcoming weeks and months.”
Liverpool has a lot of issues to resolve to retain its Premier League title this season. The balance of the midfield is off. Isak has yet to find his best form after joining in the summer. Milos Kerkez is struggling. And yet Salah’s lack of cutting edge is perhaps the most baffling problem of them all.
