Life after Salah - why Isak and Wirtz must step up for Liverpool

What the report says

Liverpool are heading into the 2026-27 season without Mohamed Salah in their squad for the first time in a decade, according to BBC Sport Football, and the club is still looking for a new attacking signing to help fill the gap. The report says Salah has moved on to Trabzonspor, while Liverpool begin their campaign at Newcastle under Andoni Iraola.

The article frames Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz as the players most likely to shoulder more of the scoring and creative burden. Liverpool also signed Hugo Ekitike, but he is recovering from an Achilles injury and is not expected back until the second half of the season. BBC Sport notes that Liverpool spent a combined £320m on Isak, Wirtz and Ekitike last summer, but says the team has not yet found a direct replacement for Salah.

Liverpool’s transfer search has continued into the closing weeks before the season, with the club linked to Paris St-Germain winger Bradley Barcola after missing out on Yan Diomande, who joined Real Madrid from RB Leipzig. The report says Liverpool also tested Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh with a rejected £50m bid and have looked at PSG teenager Ibrahim Mbaye.

The piece argues that Salah’s departure leaves Liverpool needing a more shared attacking approach, and that the opening weeks could be especially important for Isak, Wirtz and younger options such as Rio Ngumoha. In broader context, replacing a player with Salah’s long-term output is likely to be difficult, and the article suggests Liverpool are trying to reshape their forward line rather than rely on one direct successor.