EPL: Liverpool, Man City face new-era test without Salah, Guardiola

n n

Mohamed Salah and Pep Guardiola are two of the most iconic figures in Premier League history — how Liverpool and Manchester City cope without them will define their seasons.

n

For the first time since 2016, Liverpool kick off a campaign without Egypt forward Salah as their talisman, while City can no longer rely on Guardiola’s managerial genius to inspire them after a glorious decade.

n

Salah joined Turkish club Trabzonspor earlier in August, ending the Anfield career of one of the greatest players in Liverpool’s illustrious history.

n

Guardiola resigned at the conclusion of last season, bringing the curtain down on the most successful period in City’s history.

n

Now Liverpool and City launch new eras without them as the Premier League season gets underway.

n

City host Bournemouth on Sunday in Enzo Maresca’s first league game as Guardiola’s successor.

n

Just a few hours later, Liverpool’s new manager Andoni Iraola will pick a team shorn of Salah when the Reds travel to Newcastle.

n

The uncertainty over the prospects of both City and Liverpool this season is a reflection not only on the loss of Guardiola and Salah, but also the turbulence that preceded their emotional farewells in May.

n

Guardiola won six Premier League titles and the club’s first Champions League crown among a remarkable 20 trophies after taking charge in 2016.

n

The 55-year-old lifted the FA Cup and League Cup in his last season, but he exited with City removed from their perch as England’s pre-eminent force after failing to win the title in his final two years.

n

Guardiola admitted he struggled to generate the energy required to lead City’s fight against Arsenal last term, with the Gunners eventually finishing seven points clear as they clinched the title.

n

The departure of his trusted director of football Txiki Begiristain in 2025 left Guardiola lamenting “a part of me is leaving”.

n

With City also fighting against Football Association charges relating to alleged financial breaches — a protracted saga that still doesn’t have a resolution — Guardiola felt he must remain loyal to the club.

n

But he looked increasingly fatigued by the strain of rebuilding a squad in need of new blood after the departures of several stalwarts including Kevin De Bruyne, Ederson, Kyle Walker and Riyad Mahrez in recent years.

n

‘Generational talent’

n

City’s expensively assembled rebuild has been only a partial success, leaving former Chelsea boss Maresca with a daunting task to follow in Guardiola’s footsteps.

n

The Italian knows City well after working as Guardiola’s assistant in their treble-winning 2022-23 season.

n

But Maresca has only limited managerial experience after less than two seasons at Chelsea, a year in the second tier with Leicester and a brief stint at Parma.

n

The 46-year-old’s sparse CV is a far cry from Guardiola’s trophy-filled time at Barcelona and Bayern Munich before his move to Manchester.

n

Just 35 miles down the East Lancashire Road, Liverpool are also taking tentative steps into season one of their post-Salah story.

n

When Salah joined Liverpool from Roma for £36 million in 2017, few would have predicted the success that followed.

n

Salah had flopped during a spell at Chelsea, but he was an immediate hit on Merseyside.

n

The 34-year-old amassed 257 goals for Liverpool in 442 appearances in all competitions, making him the third top goalscorer in the club’s history.

n

He produced countless magical moments while winning two Premier League titles, a Champions League and the FA Cup and League Cup.

n

But the denouement to Salah’s Liverpool career was ugly.

n

He was dropped several times by Arne Slot last season and accused the club of throwing him “under the bus”.

n

Salah’s rift with Slot was never fully healed and he scored just seven league goals as Liverpool finished fifth prior to the Dutch coach’s sacking.

n

Replacing a generational talent of Salah’s status will take more than one player.

n

Iraola will hope Sweden striker Alexander Isak is much improved after an injury-plagued first season at Anfield, while new signing Victor Munoz and teenager Rio Ngumoha have great expectations.

n

But no matter how hard they try, neither Liverpool or City will ever be quite the same without their era-defining icons.

n

AFP

n n