Mohamed Salah's final Liverpool games just took on added importance: here's why

Following the Reds' exits from the Carabao Cup, FA Cup, Champions League and Premier League title race, if they were ever even in one, Mohamed Salah's final games for Liverpool are now pre-determined.

Liverpool will play six Premier League games before waving goodbye to Mohamed Salah, the man most responsible for their revival on the English, European and world footballing stages.

His legacy was crowned last year with the greatest ever individual 'carryjob' to a Premier League title - becoming the first player in English first division history to win the Golden Boot, Playmaker Award, PFA Players' Player of the Year, Football Writers Association Player of the Year and the Premier League trophy in the same season.

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The Egyptian King has been a sidepiece for Liverpool all season, until now

For Liverpool's main man since his arrival in the 2017-18 season, it must have been strange for Mohamed Salah to notice himself becoming a sidepiece in Arne Slot's latest Reds squad.

The summer arrivals of Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak sent a clear message - the future is here, and we must build our team around that reality accordingly.

For all the noise surrounding his performances this season, Salah quietly recorded his 20th goal involvement in 35 games for Liverpool with a goal in last weekend's 2-0 win against Fulham.

After 125 minutes without the Egyptian King in their quarter-final Champions League tie against PSG, Mohamed Salah was brought on for Hugo Ekitike at the 30-minute mark in the Anfield leg on Tuesday night.

Ekitike, the only forward in Liverpool's attacking line-up with more goal contributions than Salah, suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon and is expected to be out of action for nine months.

In the previous 125 minutes without Salah's presence, Liverpool recorded a measly 0.27xG against the tournament's reigning champions. The number after his entrance to the tie? 1.87xG.

Of that figure, Salah contributed one Opta-defined big chance and four key passes, as well as a dangerous ball into the path of Ibrahima Konate and Milos Kerkez within 60 seconds of touching grass, which did not count as a chance created for the Egyptian likely due to a deflection during its travel.

It is clear that while Salah may be unable to replicate the soaring heights of his earlier Liverpool career, or his late stage peak last season, he is still the primary contributor to the team's offensive success and win rate.

With Hugo Ekitike's heartbreaking injury surely casting a dark cloud over the club, and the continued reign of Arne Slot as Liverpool manager compounding issues, it is now down to Mohamed Salah to drag his beloved side out of the mud once more.

Lacking in attacking depth, tactical prowess and leadership qualities, the Egyptian King has six games left to do for Liverpool what he has historically done best - succeed at any and all cost.

With the only silver lining left in Liverpool's season being possible qualification to the Champions League, Mohamed Salah's six Liverpool games have taken on a new importance - no longer a repercussion-less farewell tour, but one last call to battle for the superstar to operate again as the Reds' main man.

If he is to do it, it could be the cherry on top of his already stellar Liverpool career that the Egyptian has surely been praying for. Salah and his Liverpool side return to Premier League action in Sunday's Merseyside derby at the Hill Dickinson stadium.