‘No room for a whimper’ – Aldridge demands big finish for Mohamed Salah

Former Liverpool striker John Aldridge has challenged the club’s current squad to rise to the occasion and deliver a fitting farewell for Mohamed Salah, whose glittering Anfield chapter is set to close at the end of the season.

Salah’s impending departure will mark the end of a remarkable nine-year spell with Liverpool FC, during which he has cemented his place among the club’s modern greats.

With the campaign entering a decisive phase, Aldridge believes the responsibility now lies with the players to ensure the Egyptian forward’s final months are defined by success rather than a gradual fade.

Writing in the Liverpool Echo, Aldridge voiced concern that the season could lose momentum following the international break, warning that such a scenario would fall short of what Salah deserves.

He stressed that there remains plenty at stake and insisted the team must “go out with a bang, not a whimper,” underlining the importance of maintaining intensity as the run-in begins.

Liverpool’s immediate schedule offers little margin for error. High-stakes encounters await, including a domestic cup clash against Manchester City and a crucial European test against Paris Saint-Germain. Aldridge cautioned that any drop in standards in these quarter-final ties could derail the club’s ambitions across multiple fronts.

“Mo won’t want that as much as anyone and there is still loads to play for once the action resumes on Saturday. It’s time to go out with a bang, not a whimper.

“You hope the Salah news has a positive impact, similar to how Jurgen Klopp’s news did two years ago, when he announced in January that his time at the club was ending. It can act as the wind in the sails and there is no doubt it powered Liverpool through during that Carabao Cup final win over Chelsea in 2024.

“When the top players look back on their careers, it’s never about money. It’s about medals and these lads at Anfield have the privilege of playing in front of the best club fans in football, so now is the time to show some fight.”