Will Liverpool Regret Not Replacing Mohamed Salah?

Trabzonspor’s Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah gestures during his signing cerenomy at the Papara Park Stadium in Trabzon on August 6, 2026. Former Liverpool star Mohamed Salah on August 6, 2026 signed a two-year contract with Turkish club Trabzonspor after leaving the Premier League giants at the end of his contract. (Photo by Nurgul GUNAYDIN / AFP via Getty Images)

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It was an intriguing summer transfer window for Liverpool. In the end, the Anfield club made only three notable additions with Bradley Barcola, Jeremy Jacquet and Victor Munoz arriving for a total of €225m. Many supporters wanted the club to do more with some weaknesses still apparent in the squad.

Most interesting was Liverpool’s failure to replace Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian’s early announcement that he would be departing at the end of the 2025/26 season was deemed to have given Liverpool a headstart on finding a successor. Instead, it refused to add a new superstar right winger over the summer.

“I’m very happy with all the signings we’ve made,” said Andoni Iraola when asked about the business Liverpool conducted in the summer transfer window. “I know the next question: ‘Do you want more signings in other positions?’ At the end the club has decided those signings we have done are the ones that improved our team and our position.

“There were other options we decided not to take, for different reasons: sometimes it is sporting reasons because they don’t improve what you have, sometimes it is economical reasons as it didn’t make sense in terms of the market to do those movements. But I’m happy now I know what we have, I have a lot of quality in the team and now it is the moment for us, for the players, for me to develop what we have.”

Jacquet has slotted in alongside Virgil Van Dijk as Liverpool’s new starting central defender. The 21-year-old has obvious potential and is already on his way to achieving that on Merseyside. Munoz has similarly made a good first impression, scoring his first Liverpool goal in the recent 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest.

Munoz normally operates on the right wing, but started on the left side against Forest with Cody Gakpo deployed on the right. Barcola’s transfer will change the profile of Liverpool’s forward line again with the French international most comfortable on the left side. This could push Munoz over to the right or keep Gakpo in that position.

The dynamic will change once more when Hugo Ekitike is fit again. Ekitike hit the ground running for Liverpool last season and is surely seen as a starting figure. However, will Iraola use Ekitike alongside Alexander Isak, the Premier League’s joint-record signing? Or will Isak take a seat on the bench?

There are a lot of unanswered questions around Liverpool right now and Iraola himself still appears to be coming up with answers. Back-to-back draws to start the new season have only added to the discussion around the team, and the club. Salah’s spectre still looms large over Anfield.