With tears in his eyes, Mohamed Salah bid a heartfelt farewell to Anfield after setting Liverpool’s all-time Premier League assists record in a 1-1 draw against Brentford. The 33-year-old Egyptian, whose departure is confirmed, started on the right wing—his customary position since joining from Roma in 2017—despite recent speculation about bench duty following criticism after the Aston Villa loss.
Salah pushed hard to add to his 257-goal tally, but his best chance—a well-placed free kick in the 20th minute—hit the post. His 93rd assist for Liverpool came minutes later, a precise outside-of-the-foot cross that Curtis Jones converted to open the scoring just before halftime. Brentford equalized late through Kevin Schade’s close-range header, yet the point secured Liverpool’s fifth-place finish and Champions League qualification.
Goalkeeper and defense
- Alisson Becker (6/10): Made a crucial save against Schade before halftime but could do nothing about Brentford’s equalizer.
- Curtis Jones (7/10): Deployed as a right-back, he excelled. His marauding runs in the first half set up Salah’s cross for Jones’ goal. A defensive slip allowed Schade’s equalizer, but his overall contribution was decisive.
- Ibrahima Konaté (5/10): Dominant in the air and composed in passing, but earned an avoidable yellow card for a clumsy foul as his contract nears expiration.
- Virgil van Dijk (6/10): Commanded the backline with authority, though Liverpool’s inability to keep a clean sheet for the umpteenth time left him frustrated.
- Andy Robertson (6/10): Preferred to Kerkez for his final appearance, delivered a solid if unspectacular performance. He was outmuscled by Schade for the equalizer, but the entire team shared the blame. Like Salah, he received a standing ovation on his substitution.
Midfield
- Ryan Gravenberch (7/10): One of Liverpool’s most energetic performers, nearly scoring with a powerful long-range effort in the first half.
- Alexis Mac Allister (5/10): Worked tirelessly but lacked end product. Frustration boiled over with a reckless late tackle, earning him a yellow card in stoppage time.
- Dominik Szoboszlai (7/10): His relentless movement created chances, including a sublime cross that should have led to a goal. Though not flawless, he remains the standout midfielder in Liverpool’s season finale.
Attack
- Mohamed Salah (8/10): Played with palpable emotion, seeking a final goal. His free kick rattled the post when Kelleher was beaten, and his assist for Jones sealed his place as Liverpool’s all-time top assist provider in the Premier League, surpassing Steven Gerrard.
- Cody Gakpo (6/10): Involved in multiple attacks, setting up Salah’s cross for Jones’ opener. His headed chance was cleared off the line, a missed opportunity to extend Liverpool’s lead.
- Rio Ngumoha (7/10): The young forward showed fearless ambition, nearly scoring with a curling effort that narrowly missed the target.
Substitutes and manager
- Florian Wirtz (6/10): Replaced Ngumoha late and nearly forced a winner with a clever run, but Kelleher made a brilliant last-ditch save to deny him.
- Jeremie Frimpong (5/10): Entered for Salah on the right wing with 16 minutes left but had little impact.
- Arne Slot (5/10): Resisted benching Salah despite mounting pressure and was rewarded with an assist. While Ngumoha impressed in his first start, Slot faces a summer of defensive reconstruction after another shaky backline performance.
As Salah and Robertson exited the pitch to standing ovations, Liverpool’s focus shifts to the summer rebuild. The draw against Brentford secured Champions League football, but questions linger over defensive frailties and the futures of key players.
