With Mohamed Salah’s future at Anfield uncertain, history shows that Liverpool have a strong track record of replacing their top scorers. Going back to the late 1960s and early 1970s, Bill Shankly dismantled his first successful team, which included iconic players like Ian St John and Roger Hunt. However, he successfully brought in new talent like Kevin Keegan, who helped Liverpool secure their first European Cup. Keegan’s departure in 1977 was followed by the arrival of Kenny Dalglish, who continued Liverpool’s success under Bob Paisley and Joe Fagan. Dalglish then passed the torch to the prolific Ian Rush in the early 1980s.
As Rush’s career began to wind down in the early 1990s, Liverpool found a new goal-scoring hero in Robbie Fowler. Fowler quickly became a fan favorite, breaking records and scoring consistently for Liverpool. However, his time at the club was marred by injuries and a falling out with manager Gerard Houllier, which eventually led to his departure. Liverpool then turned to a young Michael Owen, who rose to stardom and became a key player for the team, winning various trophies and accolades during his time at Anfield.
Following Owen’s departure, Liverpool struggled to find a suitable replacement for his goals. Djibril Cisse’s tenure at the club was short-lived, but they still managed to secure success, winning the Champions League in 2005 and the FA Cup the following year. The arrival of Fernando Torres in 2007 brought hope to Liverpool, as the Spanish striker almost led them to a league title in 2009. However, Torres’ form dipped, and he eventually moved to Chelsea for a record fee, leading Liverpool to spend big on Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez.
Suarez’s arrival in 2011 proved to be a game-changer for Liverpool, as he almost single-handedly carried them to the title in 2014. When he left for Barcelona in 2015, Liverpool struggled initially to replace his impact. However, the signings of Sadio Mane in 2016 and Mohamed Salah in 2017 revitalized Liverpool’s attack under Jurgen Klopp. Together with Roberto Firmino, they formed a formidable trio that brought success to Liverpool, winning the Champions League in 2019 and the Premier League title in 2020.
Overall, Liverpool’s rich history of replacing top scorers suggests that the club has always been able to bounce back from key departures. While Mohamed Salah’s future remains uncertain, the club’s track record shows that they have the ability to find and develop new goal-scoring talents to carry them forward. Klopp’s attacking trio of Mane, Salah, and Firmino has continued Liverpool’s tradition of explosive goal-scoring prowess, and fans can be hopeful that the club will navigate any uncertainties regarding Salah’s future with the same success they’ve had in the past.
