The Man, The Myth, The King

"Hello everyone, unfortunately, this day has come," were the words of Mohamed Salah that no Liverpool fan ever wanted to hear from him. Yet, this season, most people had somewhat anticipated it. And indeed, the Egyptian stepped in front of the camera, surrounded by his Liverpool trophies and numerous awards, to announce that he would be departing from the Reds at the end of the season, despite having another year left on his contract.

While the 33-year-old's performance this season might not be what we've come to expect, no Liverpool supporter can fault him or speak ill of him for everything he has given to the Reds since the summer of 2017. Two Premier League titles, one Champions League, two League Cups, one FA Cup, one FIFA Club World Cup, one UEFA Super Cup, and one Community Shield. And, of course, countless moments, goals, and assists that all Liverpool fans will recount to their children or grandchildren in the future.

In the summer of 2017, Jürgen Klopp decided to bring Mohamed Salah from Roma to Liverpool. Salah was a player known in England for his unsuccessful stint at Chelsea a few years prior. However, he quickly ensured that Reds fans adored him from the very first moment. His 44 goals across all competitions that season and Liverpool's journey to the Champions League final, however, didn't convince his harshest critics, who labeled him a "one-season wonder."

Liverpool fans, though, knew even then that this player would lead them to the top. They had already created a chant for him, and a nickname, which it seems will accompany him for the rest of his life: the "Egyptian King."

Salah wasn't just another player for the Liverpool squad. He was a player in whom Reds fans saw their new "King" – as they had dubbed him – a footballer who, with him in the team, would lead them to conquer every trophy a team could possibly win.

The players themselves saw the same, and he knew it, possessing the leadership qualities to help and influence his teammates even when he wasn't playing. One such moment occurred in May 2019. Liverpool hosted Barcelona at Anfield for the second leg of the Champions League semi-finals, having lost the first leg 4-0. Jürgen Klopp's team was playing without two of its biggest stars, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino.

However, there was a strong belief at Anfield that the score would be overturned and Liverpool would advance to the final. Salah shared this conviction, arriving at the stadium wearing a t-shirt that read, "Never Give Up," in one of his most iconic moments. And his teammates did exactly that; they didn't give up, scoring three goals to make it 3-0, then 4-0, and progressing to the Champions League final, where the Egyptian scored, and the Reds secured their sixth trophy.

Salah's moments at Liverpool are too numerous to be captured in a single article, that's for sure. Just as it's certain that a "golden" era for the Reds, filled with many titles and successes, is now drawing to a close. Not just because Salah is leaving, but because, barring any unforeseen circumstances, next year will also see the departure of the last of this generation's stalwarts: Alisson, Van Dijk, and Robertson.

It's also certain that the "King" will depart Liverpool with a wealth of memories, his ever-present smile, and a deep well of emotions, just as he himself expressed. "Thanks to you, I'll never walk alone." In his nine years with the Reds, Salah has scored 255 goals, 189 of which were in the English league, placing him 4th on Liverpool's all-time scoring list and 7th in the Premier League. In a league where he will forever be remembered as one of the greatest players to have ever graced it.