Why Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson will leave Anfield as Liverpool’s all-time greats football news

Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson, signed within weeks of each other in the summer of 2017, will bid farewell at Anfield against Brentford on Sunday – two era-defining figures whose journeys have helped reshape Liverpool’s modern history.

Both crucially came away with points to prove to all the doubters that ultimately made them the players they are today and will see them leave their Liverpool greats on Mount Rushmore, having won every trophy during their nine years together at the club.

Jurgen Klopp then wanted Bayer Leverkusen forward Julian Brandt to occupy the space on the right side of the Reds’ attack, only for the German to get cold feet on the move, unsure if he would get enough playing time at Anfield.

Instead, Klopp was persuaded by the club’s data analysts – including Dr Ian Graham and Fenway Sports Group’s current chief executive of football Michael Edwards – to pivot rather than sign. Salah from AS Roma for £34.3m. Despite his underwhelming years at Chelsea between 2014 and 2015, it was just two Premier League goals.

As for Robertson, the Scot was brought in from recently relegated Hall City for just £8million, packing the shelves at M&S ​​just a few years ago when he moved to the amateurish Queen’s Park on Glasgow’s south side.

“I remember my first thought was that he (Salah) was exactly what we needed,” former team-mate Adam Lallana recalled in a Sky Sports documentary. ‘Mo Salah: When He Was King’.

“In the first week of training he was completely different to what we had. His attitude and application was immediately level. What I could see straight away was that he had already played in the Premier League. He understood the mentality, the pace of the league and felt like he had a big, big, big point to prove.”

Salah hit the ground running, scoring a record-breaking first season with the Reds en route to a debut at Watford, although his fellow new arrivals took longer to adapt to his surroundings.

“I like everything about what you do offensively and I don’t think I like anything you do defensively,” Klopp recalled telling Robertson when they first met at his home in Formby to discuss a move to Anfield.

Despite making his Reds bow in August 2017, like Salah, Robertson had to wait another four months to earn a regular place in the team following an ankle injury to first-choice left-back Alberto Moreno – which he did not relinquish until this season.

And it was a memorable seven-goal thriller with Man City at Anfield in January 2018 that revealed just what the pair were about, with Salah scoring an outrageous long-range lob as the soon-to-be champions lost for the first time that season. Robertson, meanwhile, devised a manic press that went viral at the time and has since been used by various managers – including current Reds boss Arne Slott – as part of their coaching sessions.

“I think we all remember the press vs. Man City, many, many managers showed that to their players. I was one of them,” revealed the Dutchman.

That encounter was the first time the pair played together against Pep Guardiola’s side which sparked a fierce rivalry between the clubs, but it was clearly a match that brought out the best in both.

Salah has scored nine league goals for the Reds, including a sizzling one against City A solo effort at Anfield in October 2021when Robertson made another one for him A crucial home win over their rivals in November 2019 en route to a first title win for 30 years.

Indeed, it was one of 60 assists from the Scot, just four short of the Premier League record for a defender held by his former team-mate Trent Alexander-Arnold, two marauding full backs to revolutionize the role during their time together at Anfield.

“Maybe he’s a player who changes positions to a player who constantly goes up and down, important on both sides of the pitch,” said his left-back slot. “One of the full backs that changed that position.”

Salah also broke a few records starting with his debut campaign, where he scored 32 times, the most in a 38-game Premier League season, while his current total of 283 goals for one club – including many offensive efforts – is unmatched in the Premier League era.

That included 13 against Liverpool’s biggest rivals Man Utd – more than any other team – as well as nine against old foes Everton, the club’s all-time record scorer Ian Rush, noted.

“For me, what made him special among the fans was his goals against Everton and Manchester United,” he said of Mo Salah: When He Was King.

“You can go on all day when he asks about his goals against Everton and United and I think when you score against their team, you become someone special to the fans.”

And it says everything about the Egyptian’s supreme conditioning last season that last season, aged 32, he produced his best-ever campaign in front of goal, with a league-high 29 goals and 18 assists, to help the Reds win a record-equalling 20th top-flight title.

How will the duo be remembered after bowing out together on Sunday after winning nine major trophies in all competitions and featuring in 818 matches for the club?

Well, Robertson is first and foremost a highly skilled defender with the Scotland captain, more than capable of pressing, who has become the best player in the world in his position and also formed a devastating partnership with Liverpool left-back Sadio Mane during their time together at Anfield.

For Salah, sometimes it’s best to just let the numbers do the talking and his impact at Liverpool can’t be overstated by the fact that since debuting for the club, the forward has topped the Premier League for goals, total shots, shots on target and assists.

“He came, not relatively unknown, but not a huge transfer fee,” said Lallana “And I think no one expected him to do what he did.

“But there was one person who did it and he was himself and he became the best player in the world at the time and he became one of the best players at the club and that’s a special legacy.”

The pair have also been hugely influential presences in the dressing room and the loss of their combined experience – both of whom will lead their countries at this summer’s World Cup – will be almost impossible to replace at Anfield.

And while their last season at the club was, for various reasons, largely forgettable, it will in no way affect how they are viewed by the club’s fans – as two of Liverpool’s greatest ever.

Perhaps, though, it’s best to leave the final word to Robertson, who neatly summed up their nine trophy-laden years by telling his teammate: “We started together and I’m glad we’re going to finish this incredible journey together.”

Watch Mo Salah and Andy Robertson’s last Liverpool game against Brentford on Sky Sports+ from 3pm on Sunday; Kick-off is at 4pm