Salah ‘Runs the Show’ in Japan With Passing Masterclass
Liverpool Start Pre-Season With Conviction
A humid July evening in Yokohama offered Liverpool the perfect stage to begin their pre-season with a blend of style and control. With Arne Slot naming a strong starting XI at the Nissan Stadium, the Premier League champions treated the crowd to glimpses of the quality that defined their title-winning campaign.
There were debuts and talking points across the pitch, not least Hugo Ekitike’s first outing in red, but as ever, it was Mohamed Salah who dictated the tempo. Liverpool’s number 11 may now be 33, but his influence continues to grow rather than fade.
Salah’s Passing Lights Up Yokohama
Midway through the first half, Salah produced two moments of pure craft, splitting open the Yokohama F. Marinos defence with successive long passes to Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai. They were deliveries of vision and technique, reaffirming why Salah remains central to this Liverpool era.
As Liverpool Echo journalist Ian Doyle captured during live commentary (11:55): “Salah is running the show here with his long balls over the top. This time it’s Szoboszlai away, but the pitch appears to beat him too as he prepares to have a shot.”
Sky Sports reporter Peter Smith also noted Salah’s contribution, stating that the forward was “opening up” the Japanese side with some “wonderful passes”. It was more than a reminder of his quality. It was a declaration of intent.
Signs of a Refreshed Salah
Last season’s haul of 34 goals and 23 assists would be an outlier for most players. For Salah, it was another campaign of relentless output. And yet, there were signs late in the season that the miles were catching up with him. This summer, he has had the rest he needed.
At 33, Salah no longer needs to rely solely on raw pace. His intelligence on the ball, his ability to read space and time his contributions, continues to evolve. The pair of passes in Japan could easily have resulted in assists, but they served a larger purpose: showing that his sharpness is fully intact.
Slot’s System and Salah’s Central Role
While much attention was paid to the debut of Hugo Ekitike and the tactical tweaks under Arne Slot, it is clear that Salah’s influence will remain pivotal. Whether drifting wide or tucking in centrally to act as a playmaker, the Egyptian is adapting seamlessly to the evolving shape of this Liverpool side.
Slot’s desire for fluid formations was evident again in Japan, but his reliance on Salah to unlock defences remains unchanged. In matches where space is limited and structure matters, it is Salah’s precision that often provides the breakthrough.
Our View – Anfield Index Analysis
Watching Salah in Japan felt like watching an artist picking up where he left off. While most forwards at 33 might begin to fade, Mo looks like he has used the summer reset perfectly. The passes he played against Yokohama weren’t just clever, they were world-class, and there’s no overstatement in that.
There’s something reassuring for Liverpool fans in seeing Salah not only maintain his level but evolve his game. With Diaz now gone, Ekitike just settling in, and the younger forwards still finding rhythm, Salah’s consistency is going to be the glue that holds this attack together in 2025.
It’s not just the goals we’ll be watching this season. It’s the creativity, the leadership, and how he continues to adapt under Arne Slot. If this match was any indication, Salah might just be on course for another defining season in red. The legacy continues, one pass at a time.
