LIVERPOOL forward Mohamed Salah has publicly criticised a popular fan page for what he described as a “disrespectful” post targeting two of his former teammates, Darwin Núñez and Luis Díaz, who both left Anfield this summer.
The Egyptian winger, who is regarded as one of the club’s greatest ever players, took to X (formerly Twitter) to slam the independent account @AnfieldEdition after it shared a side-by-side collage comparing the Reds’ record-breaking new signings to the outgoing forwards.
The post, which depicted black-and-white photos of Núñez and Díaz alongside coloured images of Liverpool’s high-profile additions Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, appeared to suggest that the newcomers represented an upgrade on the departed duo.
Salah, who has never shied away from defending teammates past and present, branded the comparison “unfair and needless,” adding that both players “gave everything in red” and “deserve respect.”
The controversy comes at the end of a record-shattering summer for Liverpool in the transfer market. According to Sky Sports, the Merseyside giants spent £446 million, the most ever by a Premier League club in a single window, surpassing Chelsea’s £434.5m spree in 2023.
Key arrivals included: Florian Wirtz (£116m, Bayer Leverkusen), Alexander Isak (£125m, Newcastle United – a British transfer record), Hugo Ekitike (£79m), Jeremie Frimpong (£29.5m), Milos Kerkez (£40m) and Giorgi Mamardashvili (£29m)
The club also attempted to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace for £35m, but the move collapsed late on deadline day.
Despite these massive arrivals, Liverpool also recouped significant funds, generating £228.1m from player sales.
Among those departures were Núñez and Díaz, both of whom divided opinions during their Anfield spells.
Darwin Núñez, once the club’s record signing at £64m from Benfica in 2022 (rising to £85m with add-ons), joined Al-Hilal for around £46m after three inconsistent seasons. While he showcased flashes of brilliance, his time was marred by inconsistency and missed chances.
Luis Díaz, by contrast, was sold to Bayern Munich for £65.5m after becoming a key attacking force under new manager Arne Slot, often operating as a false nine.
Their exits, coupled with the tragic loss of Diogo Jota in a car crash and the surprise departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid, marked a period of transition for the club.
Salah’s defence of his former teammates has struck a chord with many Liverpool fans who felt the post crossed the line from analysis into disrespect.
One supporter replied under Salah’s post: “This is why you’re our captain, Mo. You protect the boys whether they’re here or gone.”
Another added: “Núñez and Díaz might not have been perfect, but they gave us big moments. They don’t deserve to be mocked.”