Liverpool have started the 2025/26 season with a front line after the departure of Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich, Darwin Nunez joined Al Hilal while the football world was shocked with the sad death of Portuguese star Diogo Jota.
The Reds have brought in Hugo Ekitike to play upfront while Germany playmaker Florian Wirtz was also brought in to add creativity to the squad. In what was a busy summer for Liverpool, Alexander Isak was also brought in for a record fee and he will join the squad after the international break.
With new faces now in the squad, Mohamed Salah has admitted that he is yet to get on the same page as Hugo Ekitike.
Ekitike scored in his first two Premier League games. But the overall performances of Liverpool have left a lot to be desired, with late goals needed in the first two games and a stunning Dominik Szoboszlai free-kick required against the Gunners.
Salah has also played his part in his team’s victories but he believes it will take time for things to click with Ekitike and co.
Mohamed Salah celebrates with Hugo Ekitike after he scores a goal to make it 1-0 during the pre-season friendly match between Liverpool v Athletic Club Bilbao. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
Speaking to the Men In Blazers podcast, he said: “So far I didn’t figure the connections out yet,” said Salah. “Like with Darwin or Lucho or the guys they used to play in front, or Diogo. I knew where to start with Diogo or Darwin. I know where to find them. I knew their game very well but with Hugo he’s still new.
“Sometimes I need the ball in the field. Sometimes we need [it] in the space. We try to figure that out, through the training sessions or like the videos. The manager shows us. So I will figure it out soon because also it’s going to help my game to grow as well.”
Having have to play with the likes of Wirtz, Salah is also playing with the 17-year-old starlet Ngumoha.
A star for the future, Ngumoha showed his composure by side-footing in Salah’s pass to seal the 3-2 win over Newcastle and he has a good mentor in the form of the Egyptian superstar.
“So what future is waiting for him? It depends how he’s going to handle the situation,” Salah said of Ngumoha. “How are we going to work? I need to work hard and just stay humble because he’s very young. I told him that some players peak too early and they’re going to struggle after that.
“I really wish him the best. He has a good group (here around him) and we always try to speak with him – and the manager ( Arne Slot ) also speaks to him, so he just need to stay humble and work and see how things go.”
