Reds Run Riot in Frankfurt, but Salah’s Missed Square-Up to Wirtz Steals the Headlines

There was relief and roar in equal measure as Liverpool finally snapped their rotten run with a thumping 5-1 in Frankfurt — yet we’re talking more about Mohamed Salah’s decision-making than the five-star scoreline. On a night that should have been all about the reset, the Egyptian’s choice to shoot rather than slide in Florian Wirtz for a sitter set the fanbase simmering again.

Slot’s big call pays off — mostly

Arne Slot came into Liverpool’s third Champions League outing under proper scrutiny after four defeats on the bounce — the first such wobble of his managerial career. He’s spent big to fuel a title defence, seen some instant hits like Hugo Ekitike, and others still bedding in. So eyebrows shot up when the teams dropped and Salah was on the bench. Brave? Absolutely. Necessary? On the evidence, yes — for 74 minutes Liverpool were purring without him.

From early scare to total control

It didn’t start serenely. Eintracht had Anfield’s nerves travelling all the way to Germany when Rasmus Kristensen struck first, and you feared the worst given the recent slump. But Liverpool didn’t just level, they ripped the game away, surging clear with waves of incisive play. By the time the fourth and fifth landed, it was a procession. A proper European away dismantling.

Wirtz warms up at last

For Florian Wirtz, this felt like a corner turned. After 10 games without a tangible contribution, the German finally stamped his numbers on a Liverpool performance with two smart second-half assists. He knitted attacks, found runners, and looked like the player the recruitment team believed they’d signed. The only thing missing? That first Reds goal.

The Salah flashpoint

Enter Salah on 74 minutes, Liverpool five to the good, and the stage seemingly set for a confidence-boosting cameo. Then came the moment. Clean through on the angle, Wirtz alongside for the simplest tap-in, Salah opted for the shot — and fluffed it. The reaction was instant: groans from the away end, arms outstretched from Wirtz, and a flood of posts pointing out it was the second time in four days he’d passed up an easy square ball for the same teammate after the Man United clash.

Look, Salah’s made a career out of backing himself, but there’s a line between ruthless and blinkered. Right now, with his touch not quite there and his season start stuttering, those fine margins are landing on the wrong side. And in a squad where places are suddenly up for grabs, that won’t help his case.

What it means for Slot and the season

Make no mistake, this result matters. It halts the slide, restores a bit of swagger, and gives Slot breathing room to keep shaping the XI on merit rather than reputation. Wirtz looks closer to ignition, Ekitike continues to justify the outlay, and the collective pressing is back in sync. As for Salah, he remains a modern Liverpool icon — but if the manager is demanding the extra pass when it’s on, he’ll have to heed it. The standards are sky-high, and so they should be.

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Bottom line

Reds rampant, crisis averted — for now. But the headline within the headline is clear: share the goals, share the glory. If Salah squares that to Wirtz next time, nobody’s arguing. In fact, they’ll be purring.