Liverpool Without Salah Enters a New For the first time in over a decade, Liverpool will open a season without Mohamed Salah in the squad. No player in Premier League history has scored more opening-day goals than Salah. His absence leaves a gap the club has never had to fill before. As Liverpool enters this new life after Salah under manager Andoni Iraola, all eyes turn to two expensive signings. Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz now carry the weight of expectation Salah once shouldered alone.
This is not just a squad reshuffle. It marks the end of an era that reshaped Anfield’s identity. And it raises a genuine question every Liverpool fan is asking right now: with Liverpool now without Salah, can Isak and Wirtz finally deliver at Anfield?
Why Life After Salah Matters for Liverpool Fans
Salah’s departure to Trabzonspor in Turkey closes one of the most productive chapters in Liverpool’s modern history. Between 2015 and 2026, Salah, Sadio Mane, and Roberto Firmino combined for 488 goals for the club. Salah alone scored 257 of those, including a record 10 goals on Premier League opening matchdays.
None of that trio remains at Anfield now. In fact, this is the first season since 2015 that Liverpool will begin without any of the three. Consequently, a new generation of attackers must now carry the goalscoring burden. None of them has proven themselves at this level yet.
Cody Gakpo is currently Liverpool’s top scorer in the squad, with just 50 goals for the club. That number puts into sharp focus just how much responsibility Isak and Wirtz must now shoulder. Liverpool wants to compete on multiple fronts this season, and it needs their goals to make that happen.
Isak, Wirtz and Ekitike: Liverpool’s £320m Bet on Life Without Salah
Liverpool didn’t wait for Salah’s exit to start planning for life without him. Last summer, the club spent a combined £320m on three attacking talents: Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, and Hugo Ekitike. The idea was simple. Instead of relying on one superstar, Liverpool wanted to spread the creative and goalscoring load across several elite players.
However, the plan hit early obstacles. Ekitike, 24, showed real promise after his move to Anfield. But a ruptured Achilles tendon in April ended his season early. The club now hopes he can return fit for the second half of this campaign.
Meanwhile, both Isak and Wirtz endured disappointing debut seasons at Liverpool. Isak, who joined for a British record fee of £125m, managed only four goals in an injury-hit first year. Wirtz, 23, had a steadier campaign with seven goals and 10 assists. Still, expectations for a player of his talent remain far higher.
Despite those struggles, this season represents a genuine opportunity. Salah has gone, and Liverpool hasn’t signed a direct replacement. As a result, Isak and Wirtz no longer compete for minutes. They now sit at the center of Iraola’s attack.
Liverpool’s Search for a New Forward Without Salah
More than five months have passed since Liverpool confirmed Salah’s exit. Yet the club still hasn’t landed the marquee forward many expected. Liverpool missed out on 19-year-old Yan Diomande, who instead joined Real Madrid from RB Leipzig. That deal was reportedly worth up to £120m.
Ekitike’s injury has made the need for reinforcements even more urgent. As a result, confidence is growing that Liverpool will complete a deal for Paris St-Germain winger Bradley Barcola. The 23-year-old France international is reportedly open to the move, though the fee remains a sticking point. PSG initially wanted around £145m, while Liverpool hopes to negotiate closer to £100m.
Interestingly, Liverpool actually explored signing Barcola last summer too. At the time, the club held back because it didn’t want to block the pathway for academy graduate Rio Ngumoha. Now that Salah has left a year earlier than planned, that calculation has changed entirely.
Liverpool has also stayed active elsewhere in the market. Brighton rejected a £50m bid from the club for winger Yankuba Minteh this week. Liverpool has also explored a potential move for PSG’s Ibrahim Mbaye.
Ngumoha and Iraola’s Vision for Liverpool’s Post-Salah Attack
One name generating real excitement at Anfield is Rio Ngumoha. Last August at St James’ Park, he became the youngest goalscorer in Liverpool’s history, netting a dramatic 100th-minute winner. Ngumoha turns 18 next week, and that milestone will let him sign a five-year contract with the club.
Iraola has trialled Ngumoha on the right flank during pre-season, the same position Salah made his own for years. The manager’s tactical setup demands wingers who can play on both sides of the pitch. Liverpool showed that flexibility clearly when it signed Victor Munoz from Osasuna. Munoz is a direct, pacy attacker suited to breaking down defensive blocks.
For the season opener against Newcastle, Gakpo is expected to start on the left. Ngumoha should take the right in Salah’s old role. Munoz, who impressed in a pre-season match against Como, looks set to provide an attacking spark from the bench. Iraola has also floated the idea of using Gakpo as a central striker when needed.
Wirtz’s Role Behind the Striker in the Post-Salah Era
Florian Wirtz will operate primarily just behind the main striker this season. After a full year adjusting to English football, Wirtz himself feels better equipped for the Premier League. People inside the club share that confidence too. Many genuinely believe much more is still to come from the German playmaker.
His numbers last season, seven goals and 10 assists, hint at his potential rather than fully reflecting it. Additionally, reports from pre-season suggest his understanding with Isak has grown significantly. That growing chemistry could prove crucial for Liverpool’s attacking output this year.
Can Isak Deliver at Anfield Under Pressure to Perform?
All eyes will inevitably fall on Alexander Isak, given his British record £125m transfer fee. Manager Andoni Iraola has expressed confidence in the Swedish striker. He described him as being in “a very good place” and predicted he will be “very important” for the team this season.
Iraola said he knows Isak’s true level and expects the goals to follow if the striker can maintain his form. The manager also noted that his focus with Isak has shifted toward improving his movement without the ball. That movement helps him create space for teammates when Liverpool is in possession.
Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler has echoed that confidence. Speaking about Isak, Fowler said he remains “a massive fan.” He believes the striker will prove to be “a handful” for opposing defenses this season.
Fowler pointed out that Isak has already proven himself in the Premier League. He put last season’s struggles down largely to the injury problems Isak faced. Despite the tough first year, Fowler still expects the striker to score goals and cause problems for defenders. He also pushed back against the idea that the price tag should add extra pressure. Isak’s focus, he argued, should remain purely on performance.
Fowler pointed to Isak’s record of 62 goals in 109 games for Newcastle before his move to Anfield. That kind of consistency is exactly what Liverpool fans are hoping to see return this season. No experienced forward has been brought in to share the load, which makes his form even more important.
Captain Van Dijk’s Honest Assessment of Life After Salah
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk offered a measured but honest take on the squad’s situation ahead of the new season. He stressed that Liverpool needs a squad capable of competing on all four fronts. That, he said, is the only way the club can be successful this year.
Van Dijk’s comments suggest the current squad still needs reinforcement. Only then can it genuinely challenge across the Premier League, Champions League, and domestic cups. He added that the final weeks of the transfer window would be worth watching. That leaves the door open for further signings before it closes.
What Liverpool Without Salah Means Going Forward
Liverpool’s situation heading into the new season is unusual for a club of its stature. For the first time in over ten years, there’s no single dominant goalscorer to lean on. Instead, a young, talented, but largely unproven attacking group must carry that responsibility.
Ekitike’s injury has complicated matters further and pushed the club into an active search for reinforcements like Barcola. Meanwhile, academy talents like Ngumoha offer excitement and promise. Still, expecting a teenager to replace Salah’s output would be unrealistic.
Ultimately, this season will show whether Isak and Wirtz can translate their undeniable talent into consistent output at Anfield. Both players arrived with big reputations. Now, with Salah gone and the pressure firmly on their shoulders, they finally have the platform to prove they belong among Liverpool’s greats.
Key Takeaways
- Mohamed Salah has left Liverpool for Trabzonspor, ending an era in which he, Sadio Mane, and Roberto Firmino combined for 488 goals.
- Cody Gakpo is currently Liverpool’s top scorer in the squad with just 50 goals, highlighting the scale of the challenge ahead.
- Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, signed alongside the injured Hugo Ekitike, should lead Liverpool’s attack this season.
- Liverpool is closing in on a deal for PSG winger Bradley Barcola after missing out on Yan Diomande.
- Rio Ngumoha, Liverpool’s youngest ever goalscorer, is training in Salah’s old position on the right wing.
- Captain Virgil van Dijk has stressed the squad still needs strengthening to compete on all fronts this season.
Conclusion
Liverpool without Salah looks like a genuinely different club, and this season will test that new identity from matchday one. The Egyptian’s goals, his creativity, and his sheer consistency carried Liverpool for a decade. No single player has stepped in to replace him directly.
Instead, the club has placed its faith in Isak and Wirtz. That faith is backed by Ekitike once he returns from injury, and by academy talent like Ngumoha pushing for a first-team role. Add a potential Barcola arrival, and Iraola will have real attacking depth to work with, even without a like-for-like Salah replacement.
Whether that gamble pays off depends largely on fitness and form. Isak and Wirtz have shown flashes of what they can offer, but neither delivered consistently in their first Liverpool season. This time, with Salah gone and the spotlight fully on them, they no longer have the luxury of easing in. Liverpool fans will be watching closely to see if life without Salah becomes a step forward or a painful adjustment.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why did Mohamed Salah leave Liverpool?
Liverpool confirmed Salah’s departure in March, and he has since joined Trabzonspor in the Turkish Super Lig. He will not be part of Liverpool’s squad for the 2026-27 season.
2. Who is Liverpool’s top scorer without Mohamed Salah?
Cody Gakpo is currently Liverpool’s top scorer within the existing squad, with 50 goals for the club. That total sits far below the numbers Salah, Mane, and Firmino posted during their time at Anfield.
3. How much did Liverpool spend on Isak, Wirtz, and Ekitike?
Liverpool spent a combined £320m to sign Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, and Hugo Ekitike. The goal was to share the attacking responsibilities that Salah once carried alone.
4. Is Liverpool signing Bradley Barcola?
There is growing confidence that Liverpool will complete a transfer for Paris St-Germain winger Bradley Barcola. The two clubs are currently negotiating a fee between £100m and £145m.
5. Why is Hugo Ekitike not playing for Liverpool right now?
Hugo Ekitike ruptured his Achilles tendon in April. Liverpool hopes he will be fit and available again for the second half of the 2026-27 season.
