Thank You Mo Salah, Goodbye Liverpool

Woke up this morning to the news I think many of us knew was coming -- Mohamed Salah will be leaving Liverpool FC at the end of the 2025/26 season.

And yet... I didn’t feel shocked. Maybe because part of me had already said goodbye months ago, expecting it to happen during the January window.

What I did feel, though, was something heavier -- a quiet disappointment that’s been building all season. It’s hard to understand how a player who just helped deliver another Premier League title, while still producing extraordinary numbers, could be treated the way he has.

What makes it even harder to accept is the level of vitriol that’s been directed at him this season. Yes, by his own incredibly high standards, it may not have been his best year -- but to see Salah subjected to constant criticism, name-calling, and disrespect over a relatively below-par run is deeply unfair. This is a player who has carried the club for years, who has delivered time and again when it mattered most. To reduce all of that to a few difficult months feels not just harsh, but completely devoid of perspective and gratitude.

If anything, this past year has slowly changed how I see the club. I never imagined I’d feel this disconnected from something I’ve supported all my life. But watching how Salah has been handled -- by both the club and sections of the fanbase -- made that distance grow, week by week.

Eight incredible seasons. Relentless consistency. Total commitment. And yet, it somehow led to this.

It makes you question things. Is this really what supporting this club has become? Because even through the long, painful decades without a league title, I don’t remember a player being treated like this.

So yes, there’s sadness -- but also, strangely, a sense of closure. Salah leaving feels like the final chapter, not just for him, but for my own journey with the club.

That said, the memories will always stay. From the early days of following the team, to standing at Anfield, to witnessing that unforgettable Champions League trophy parade in 2019 --- those moments are part of me.

I’ll still go back to the classics. Watching Kenny Dalglish, Steven Gerrard, Ian Rush, and of course Salah, doing what they did best. I’ll revisit the stories, the matches, the history I’ve held onto for so long.

But that’s what it will be now -- history.

As for Salah... thank you. For the goals, the magic, the consistency, and the humility. A true legend of the game and an even better human being.

I genuinely believe we won’t see another like you -- not just in what you did on the pitch, but in who you were off it.

Mo Salah And The 10,000-Hour Rule

 

Why is it that some people still don’t give Liverpool living legend Mo Salah the respect he deserves? 

Maybe it’s because he makes football look too easy.

Last season alone, he recorded over 50 goal involvements – an extraordinary feat – yet there are still corners of the football world that scoff. Why? Because Salah makes it look effortless. But what looks effortless on the pitch is really the product of years of extraordinary effort, sacrifice, and relentless repetition.

Malcolm Gladwell’s famous 10,000-hour rule suggests that true mastery of a skill takes that much dedicated practice. Salah has gone far beyond that. His dazzling runs, his clinical finishing, his ability to torment defenders – they didn’t happen overnight. They were sharpened through countless hours on training grounds, through discipline, and through the mindset of an elite professional who refuses to be satisfied.

People take his numbers for granted now, as though a goal or assist every other game is "normal." It isn’t. Not by a long shot. Salah is 4th on the all-time Premier League goalscoring list, sitting among legends of the game. His record-breaking feats could fill a book, and yet he remains humble, grounded, and committed to his family and his craft.

And just last night, he made history yet again – winning the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award for the third time. Nobody had ever done that before. Not Henry, not Ronaldo, not even De Bruyne. Salah did it.

Mo Salah is not just a Liverpool icon, not just an Egyptian King – he is a footballing great of this era. The numbers don’t lie. The consistency doesn’t lie. The respect of his peers doesn’t lie.

Mabruk, Mohamed Salah! 

* Pics by PFA

Turning Doubters Into Believers: What Klopp Really Did for Liverpool

Some time ago, I read two books back to back -- An Epic Swindle (The Near Death of Liverpool FC) by Brian Reade, and Believe Us by Melissa Reddy. One chronicles a club on the brink of financial and moral collapse, the other celebrates its astonishing rebirth under one man. Reading them in succession was like watching a gripping two-part documentary: the fall… and then the rise.

And what a rise it was.

By the time I closed the second book, my respect for Jürgen Klopp had evolved into full‑blown awe. It became crystal clear that he wasn't just a successful manager, he was a miracle worker. To take a club still reeling from years of boardroom chaos, fan frustration, and false dawns… and turn it into a European and Premier League‑winning machine? That’s not just football. That’s alchemy.

Honestly, the real miracle might be that it only took him a few years to win the Champions League, and then -- finally -- the Premier League title that had eluded Liverpool for three painful decades.

The Cowboys and the Chaos

To truly appreciate what Klopp inherited -- and rebuilt -- we must revisit the darkest chapter of modern Liverpool: the Hicks and Gillett years. This era brought broken promises, legal battles, crippling debt, and an atmosphere so toxic it choked the last breath out of hope.

Though Liverpool still had stars -- Gerrard, Torres, Alonso, Mascherano -- belief was gone. Matches unfolded in a haze of exhaustion; the supporters, weary and fractured. The club’s identity, once a source of immense pride, had been eroded.

A Steady Hand: FSG and Klopp’s Arrival

In 2010, Fenway Sports Group took over and brought stability. Five years later, in October 2015, Jürgen Klopp arrived with a simple but seismic message:

“We have to turn doubters into believers.”

No flamboyant pledges. No heroics. Just a mission.

He reintroduced belief, unity, passion and identity. Players ran harder, staff stood taller, and Anfield roared again. Slowly, something beautiful took shape.

From Belief to Glory: The Road to Triumph

Liverpool reached the 2018 Champions League final, only to fall heartbreakingly short. Klopp’s response? Regroup. Return stronger.

2019 in Madrid: Salah and Origi scored as Liverpool claimed their 6th European crown. A healing moment for fans everywhere.

A personal highlight? Being there, in Liverpool, for the trophy parade. With my family amidst a sea of red, I watched the players pass by, glory in their hands. It was joy and disbelief, combined.

Then in 2020, they finally won the Premier League, a title 30 years in waiting. I cried. Real tears. Release of decades of longing. The wait was over.

Witnessing the Klopp Era Firsthand

As detailed in my getaran.my column Kisah Anak Gen‑X: Selamat Tinggal, Jurgen Klopp! -- I grew up in Liverpool’s golden age. The drought felt endless, déjà vu after near misses cut deeper each time. But Klopp changed the script.

In 2017, I visited Anfield, sat on Klopp’s seat during the Stadium Tour, and imagined the roar of 60,000 fans on a European night.

 

By June 2019, I stood among 750,000 Scousers, celebrating our heroes returning from Madrid. Hours-long waits turned timeless memories. Football felt transcendent again.

I wrote then:

“Licik, pantas, agresif -- Liverpool milik Klopp bermain setiap nota ‘heavy metal football’ dengan semangat buas.”

His trademark Klopp hugs weren’t just gestures, they were how he wove together a fractured club .

A Legacy Beyond Trophies

Klopp’s departure in 2024 marked the end of an era -- he did it on his terms, walking away with respect, gratitude and seven major trophies. His impact, by the numbers -- win rate, memorable matches, and youth development -- is one for the record books.

But more than stats, his legacy lives in what he restored: belief, pride, emotion, unity. He reminded Kopites -- young and old -- what they were. What they always could be.

Only now, with books read and experiences reflected on, do I fully realise: Klopp didn’t just win football matches. He resurrected a club’s soul. And as he so beautifully promised: he turned doubters into believers.

Adidas Again

It’s happening, people! Liverpool and adidas are finally reuniting today, the 1st of August 2025. 

Naturally, I had to do the only logical thing: raid my wardrobe and dig up the last two adidas Liverpool kits I proudly wore.

📸 Exhibit A: The Torres Jersey!

Ah yes. The unmistakable Number 9. This was me, channelling El Niño (minus the speed, skills, and Spanish accent). I remember buying this (in London) and thought that I'd be wearing it for years and years. 

Of course, that 'love story' ended in tears. The day Torres left for Chelsea, it felt like someone had punched a hole through my footballing soul. No warning. No thank you. Just blue. The betrayal was real—and the entire Kop was stunned. Jerseys like mine suddenly became... complicated.

📸 Exhibit B: At Bukit Jalil, 2011!

This one was no less emotional. I wore this 2010/11 away kit to catch Liverpool vs Malaysia live at Bukit Jalil—the stadium packed, the roar deafening, and my "This Is Anfield" banner held proudly. That adidas kit, with its clean white base and blue accents, remains one of my all-time favourites (feel free to disagree). Simple, classy, and forever tied to that electric night.

Adidas kits always felt like Liverpool. Whether it was the design, the heritage, or just the way it hugged your heartbreak during a tough loss—there was something right about it. Sure, Nike had their moment (and the club made loads of money), but emotionally? It never truly fit the way adidas did.

Now, with the return happening in a matter of hours, I feel like these jerseys are no longer "vintage" — they’re relevant again. It’s like my wardrobe got updated without me spending a single sen (but let’s be honest, I’ll still buy the new one).

Welcome home, adidas. Let’s make more memories.

#YNWA

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Thank You, Diogo

It's been a few days now, and I still can't bear to watch any Diogo Jota content. 

Jota and his brother Andre Silva passed away in Spain following a car accident, and the shock has yet to subside, especially for Liverpool fans. 

I can't recall a current player leaving us this way in the decades that I've supported the club, and the pain has been simply too much to handle.

Thank you, Diogo. You will always live in our hearts as a true legend and champion. 

And we will always miss you. YNWA. 

Ours. Again.

 

Having won the title almost a month ago, Liverpool FC finally lifted the Premier League trophy as the champions of the 2024/25 season! Woohoo. And what a glorious sight it was.

And the day after, it was time for the trophy parade! We were there in 2019 when over 750,000 Scousers flooded the streets to welcome home the champions League trophy, but reports said that there were DOUBLE the number of people this time around. No one does it better than us, indeed!

Enjoy these magnificent pictures...

Liverpool Are League Champions For The 20th Time!

 

It was 1.25am, Monday morning Malaysian time when the final whistle was blown and Liverpool were officially crowned the 20204/25 Premier League champions! 

And let's be real; we had actually sewn up the title back in December, but to finally officially win it felt no less satisfying. 

To be perfectly honest, I had absolutely no expectations when Arne Slot took over the helm from Jurgen Klopp at the end of last season. I knew very little about the Dutchman, his record and methods. But he did look like a cool guy from the get-go.

Things did look promising during pre-season though. While he kept things mostly intact, a couple of big tweaks, like playing Ryan Gravenberch in the defensive midfield position, and not having the fullbacks on attack mode most of the time, gave the team a somewhat 'new look'.

Then the first match against Ipswich arrived... and I remember not being very impressed by their first half performance! Oh man, we're in for a looong season, I thought. 

But Slot made a couple of crucial changes at half-time, and we won 2-0. Phew!

Since then, it's pretty much smooth sailing for us in the league. And with Mo Salah in the form of his life, we dazzled and dominated with Slot's prog-rock approach, as opposed to the heavy metal assault we've been accustomed to.

And here we are now: LEAGUE CHAMPIONS FOR THE 20th TIME with 4 matches to spare. Alhamdulillah. 

Now we await the guards of honour (ahem) and the final day of the season when get to finally lift the trophy again!

Mo Salah Stays!

 

Alhamdulillah, the news all Liverpool fans have been waiting for the longest time finally arrived earlier today. The Egyptian King will remain on his throne for at least a couple more years!

I have a lot to say about how FSG has been (mis)handling the issue (and it's far from over really, as our very own club captain and Trent have yet to sign on the dotted line), but let's just enjoy this bit of fabulous development for now. We have a league title to win!

Kisah Anak Gen-X: Selamat Tinggal, Jurgen Klopp!

 

Sebaik saja Jurgen Klopp mendarat di Liverpool pada Oktober 2015, penyokong, pemerhati serta pengamal media dunia terus berspekulasi dan bertanya; Mampukah si “Normal One” ini membawa pulang trofi liga ke Anfield selepas kemarau lebih dua dekad? Adakah ini permulaan satu revolusi ala Bill Shankly dan Bob Paisley?

Aku sendiri sangat berhati-hati kerana pernah menonton filem yang sama berulang kali sebelum ini. Harus faham, aku bukan baru menyokong kelab dari Merseyside ini. Aku membesar dengan Liverpool bertakhta sebagai kuasa bola sepak paling dominan di England dan juga Eropah. 

Namun, selepas memenangi kejuaraan liga buat kali ke-18 pada 1990, fasa kekecewaan bermula. Dari setahun menunggu, jadi lima, jadi 10, jadi 15; sehinggalah aku rasakan seolah mahkota liga itu sudah tidak akan kembali ke kabinet trofi Anfield.

Tiga pengurus sebelum Klopp, Brendan Rodgers, Rafa Benitez dan Gerard Houllier, pernah hampir memecahkan badi, tapi semuanya berakhir dengan airmata.

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Thank You, Lads!

Thank you, lads! Thanks for being part of the team that won everything! A personal highlight for me was being at the Champions League trophy parade in Liverpool back in 2019, cheering for this lot. This absolutely means more. #ynwa

Champions Stuff Incoming!

 

Just some #champions stuff I ordered from the Liverpool website 😁😁

19 Times! Liverpool Are League Champions Again!

The 30-year wait ends! No other words needed...

World Champions!

 

We are the championsss... Of the worrrllddd

Jalan-Jalan UK 2019: Aidilfitri Edition

The plan was actually to go somewhere else. Somewhere in the Southern Hemisphere. But the fact that I was outvoted by the fam, brought us back to the UK this past mid-year school holidays. Of course this was the second year that the holidays coincided with Ramadhan and Syawal, so we did have to be sure we wanted to celebrate Raya in a foreign land. In the end, we were REALLY sure : )

We also did a couple of different things this time around. I booked Qatar Airways for the first time ever, after reading the good reviews. And I also booked our hotel room by searching on FB for a Malaysian-run homestay or Airbnb. Both turned out well... with a couple of surprises.

So the flight and transit from KL to Doha to Heathrow all went well. The Doha airport of course looked and felt new. They looked all prepared for the World Cup deluge in 2022.

At the Doha Hamad International Airport

From Heathrow, with our Oyster cards all topped up, we decided to take the Tube to get to our accommodation. It's been some two years since our last trip, so we were all super excited lah. But unlike most of our other trips during Autumn/Winter, it's sunnier and warmer this time around (although it did return to form during the latter days).

After a train change, we finally arrived at Queensway. Ah, Bayswater. The sights, the smells... how we've missed thee. As we approached the building of the accommodation just around the corner from Whiteleys (that's currently under renovation), we saw the Malaysian flag, and the Grand Plaza Apartments, managed and owned by Felda. So yeah, they probably sublet a couple of units to the Vista London folks to run it as their own rental business.

There's also a Malaysian restaurant here called Selesa

We left our bags there, since it was still around 9am, and headed out to, where else, Hyde Park! Oh yeah, it was also our anniversary, and the first we're celebrating in London. Chewah!

Another special anniversary for us :)

A beautiful day, huh?

We also headed out to Covent Garden for some shopping and just to enjoy the street performers and unique stores and stalls.

We went back to the hotel to check in, and yeah, the room was as advertised and shared through Whatsapp. It's bigger than the average London hotel room with a kitchen, nice size bathroom and a big bed with one sofa bed. A good deal, I must say. That same night was of course the UEFA Champions League final! We watched the game in the room, and as you might have heard, Liverpool won their 6th title!

I was confident of us winning vs Spurs that I had already made arrangements for us to go to Liverpool the next day to be part of the Trophy Parade. Woohoo!

You can read my story on the parade HERE and watch the video HERE .

The following day, it was time for a bit of sightseeing and a lot of shopping of Liverpool stuff at the LFC store! And oh, it was definitely colder than it was in London. Both wifey and Tia quite like the cold, but can't really stand it, so we always had to get indoors where it was warmer : )

We then took the train back to London, and waited for the announcement on when Hari Raya Aidilfitri was. Malaysia would celebrate it on the 5th of June, but we received news later that night that the UK would be welcoming Eid on the 4th! Sehari untunglah. Hehe.

So the next day, it was time to get all dressed up for Hari Raya! The "sebak" feeling was a bit more than usual as we played the Takbir Raya that morning. We had also brought some food to be cooked and yes, we had lemang and chicken rendang!

And here are more of our Raya snaps. Go #TeamRayaBayswater!

Later on that day, we hung out at Westfield London as Tia was meeting a friend there. And we had Lebanese cuisine for lunch. Definitely a different kind of Raya this year.

#SixTines !

And oh, dinner at our favourite Bayswater restaurant, Noodle Oodle!

The next day, we revisited some of our favourite London spots. And the weather was quite lovely too.

And we also headed out to Camden, which was apparently Tia's first time ever!

Fish and Chips, of course, my favourite thing to eat now. poke!

And it was indeed the first time for all of us when we took the train out to Bath! It was also a trip I bought tickets for well in advance, so the fare was rather reasonable (yes, this is an official tip: always buy train tickets in advance for better rates!)

We reached Bath close to noon and we were blessed with another day of good weather! The High Street is near the train and bus stations, so it was really easy to explore the shops.

But we also went straight for the highlight: The Roman Baths!

From Wikipedia: The Roman Baths complex is a site of historical interest in the English city of Bath. It is a well-preserved Roman site once used for public bathing. The Baths are a major tourist attraction and, together with the Grand Pump Room, receive more than one million visitors a year. Visitors can tour the baths and museum but cannot enter the water.

What a great and enlightening tour it was! We were famished after that and we were lucky to find a burger place that served Halal meats. So sedap!

We continued walking after that and stopped by Bath's famous landmarks, the Circus (which is a historic street of large townhouses, not an actual circus), the Crescent and the Jane Austen Centre.

Another highlight was the Fashion Museum, which Tia absolutely loved! Ah, what a day it was.

On our final day, we still had time for one last shopping spree at Westfield, although this time around, we had to endure the London rain while getting there.

Then it was time for us to return home. A glorious week indeed filled with awesome memories.

I had my favourite almond croissant literally every day!

Some of our London loot

The flight home though gave us a bit of a drama. There was a long delay on the tarmac at Heathrow due to technical issues, and we arrived late in Doha and missed our connecting flight to KL!

They got us seats on the next flight, but it was some 6 hours away! But they ushered us to the very nice lounge, so we had a comfortable nap and some breakfast as well. Our holiday had an unexpected "extension" but really, we had no complaints, having had the time of our lives the past one week. And yes, we'll be back...