The atmosphere at the Etihad was electric, but for Mohamed Salah, a shadow seemed to fall over his performance during Liverpool’s 4-0 FA Cup defeat. Former Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart, watching from the sidelines as a pundit, noticed something deeply unsettling – a visible crack in the usually unwavering confidence of the Egyptian star.
Hart pinpointed the moment during the first half, observing Salah’s body language as the teams walked off the pitch. It wasn’t the missed chances or the later saved penalty that first caught his eye, but a quiet devastation etched onto Salah’s face. He described a player who appeared profoundly low on confidence, a stark contrast to the dynamic force fans have come to expect.
The blocked shot early in the game, Hart explained, was a telling sign. It wasn’t simply a missed opportunity; it was a glimpse into a struggling mindset. He saw a player wrestling with something internal, a vulnerability rarely displayed on the pitch.
This season has been a difficult one for Liverpool, marked by a significant number of losses. Yet, Salah’s personal struggles feel particularly poignant as he approaches the end of his time at Anfield, having recently announced his departure after the 2025/26 season.
Despite a muted performance against Manchester City, missing crucial chances and failing to convert a penalty, Salah’s legacy at Liverpool remains firmly cemented. His statistics are staggering: 255 goals and over 100 assists, fueling two Premier League titles and a Champions League victory.
He stands as the club’s third-highest goalscorer of all time, a testament to his incredible impact. Even as his final season unfolds with unexpected challenges, his place in Liverpool’s history is secure, a legend etched in the hearts of the fans.
Now, with a crucial Champions League clash against PSG looming, Liverpool supporters are hoping for a resurgence, a final burst of brilliance from their departing icon. The weight of a crumbling campaign rests, in part, on the shoulders of the Egyptian King, and the hope for one last moment of magic lingers.
