No player has scored more goals on a Premier League opening matchday than Mohamed Salah for Liverpoolrecord.
However, as Liverpool open their 2026‑27 season under manager Andoni Iraola at Newcastle on Sunday (kick‑off 16:30 BST), Mohamed Salah will be playing for Trabzonspor against Istanbul Başakşehir in the Turkish Super League, over 2,100 miles away.
This will mark the first time since 2015 that Liverpool begin a campaign without Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané or Roberto Firmino in their lineup.
Between 2015 and 2026, that trio contributed a combined 488 goals for the club (Salah 257, Mané 120, Firmino 111).
Salah accounted for 10 of those goals on opening matchdays, a Premier League record.
With the Egyptian star now absent, the current leading scorer in Liverpool’s squad is Cody Gakpo, who has netted 50 goals for the club.
After Liverpool invested a combined £320 million in Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike last summer, the club’s long‑term plans were set in motion.
It is unrealistic for any single player to match Salah’s output; his goal‑scoring and creative responsibilities must now be shared.
Ekitike, 24, made a strong initial impression at Anfield before suffering an Achilles rupture in April, with hopes of returning for the second half of the season.
Both Isak, 26, and Wirtz, 23, are expected to spearhead this new Liverpool era following underwhelming debut seasons.
After confirming Salah’s departure earlier this year, Liverpool were anticipated to make another marquee signing, but as the new campaign approaches they have yet to do so.
“We need a squad capable of competing on all four fronts; that is the only way to aim for success,” Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said recently.
“Let’s see what the final weeks of the transfer window bring, and then let’s go for it.”