Mohamed Salah defends his ex-teammates on social media. Image: Michael Regan-Getty Images.
(The Post News)– Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah took a public stand on Wednesday, calling out a popular fan-run social media account for blatant disrespect toward his former teammates Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez.
The incident stemmed from a post on X (formerly Twitter) that mocked the two players following their recent departures from the club during the summer transfer window. The controversial post came from the fan account Anfield Edition, which has amassed a large following of over half a million Liverpool supporters.
In the now-deleted post, the account shared black-and-white images of Diaz and Nunez beside color images of Liverpool’s new signings, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak. The caption read, “Name a bigger upgrade in footballing history.”
Salah, known not only for his performance on the pitch but also for his vocal presence online, took exception to the tone of the post. Rather than let the message go unchallenged, he directly responded on the same platform, rebuking the account for what he saw as a needless and disrespectful comparison.
“How about we celebrate the great signings without disrespecting the Premier League champions?” Salah replied, referencing the club’s recent success and defending his former teammates, both of whom played roles, albeit to varying degrees, in Liverpool’s 20th top-flight league title.
Anfield Edition Apologizes to Salah
Salah’s comment quickly gained traction online, drawing attention to the original post and forcing a response from Anfield Edition. The fan account responded with an apology: “It wasn’t the intention to disrespect, more to highlight the incredible transfers this summer. But we’re sorry.” They accompanied their apology with an image of Salah sitting on a throne, a symbolic gesture to acknowledge the star’s authority and leadership within the club and the fanbase.
The online dispute unfolded during a dramatic summer transfer window that saw the team reshape its attacking lineup. Colombian winger Luis Diaz completed a high-profile move to German giants Bayern Munich for a reported fee of €75 million ($87.8 million). Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez, who had experienced mixed form during his time at Anfield, joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal for a fee believed to be €53 million.
In their place, the team aggressively pursued reinforcements. The club splashed out £116 million ($156.7 million), including performance-based add-ons, to secure German playmaker Florian Wirtz. Soon after, they shattered the British transfer record by signing Swedish striker Alexander Isak from Newcastle United for £125 million.
While Diaz had a productive season before his departure, scoring 13 goals and contributing 7 assists in 36 appearances, Nunez struggled to find consistent form. He managed just 5 goals in 30 league games, often coming under fire on social media for missed chances and erratic finishing. Despite his poor scoring record, many fans and teammates appreciated his relentless energy and physical presence on the pitch.
The social media post that triggered his response seemed to ignore those contributions, portraying the signings of Wirtz and Isak as not only improvements but direct replacements who rendered the former players irrelevant. Salah evidently saw this as a slight against teammates who had given their all for the club even if their time had ended.
This incident wasn’t the only time he used his platform to take a principled stand. Just weeks earlier, he criticized UEFA for its vague and seemingly sanitized tribute to Suleiman Al-Obeid, a celebrated Palestinian footballer known as the “Palestinian Pele.”
As Liverpool enters a new chapter with a revamped attacking lineup, Salah’s actions serve as a reminder of the human side of the sport: a side where players are more than transfer values, stats, or memes and where dignity, respect, and solidarity still matter.
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