Liverpool have reshaped their attacking approach on the right flank following Mohamed Salah’s departure at the end of last season, opting for a collective solution rather than replacing the Egyptian winger with a single player. Under head coach Andoni Iraola, the club has deployed four different players—Bradley Barcola, Victor Muñoz, Cody Gakpo, and Rio Ngumoha—to fill the area Salah once dominated, a strategy that has yielded fruitful results in the current campaign.

This reinvigoration of Liverpool’s right side has been a notable factor in their recent performances. In the club’s 2-0 Premier League win over Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday, both goals arose from sequences down the right flank. Overall, eight of Liverpool’s eleven league goals this season have either originated from or been finished on that side, with an additional two goals influenced by plays from central right areas. This pattern is mirrored in other competitions, such as the Champions League and Carabao Cup, where nine out of 15 goals have also come via the right channel.

Salah’s departure last March followed a disagreement with then-head coach Arne Slot, after the winger was dropped from the starting lineup, leading him to request a contract termination. During his nine-year tenure at Anfield, Salah scored 257 goals and contributed 120 assists across 442 appearances, helping Liverpool secure two Premier League titles, a Champions League trophy, and other honours. He now plays for Trabzonspor.

Liverpool’s attempts to sign a high-profile right winger to succeed Salah saw limited success. Yan Diomandé chose to join Real Madrid from RB Leipzig, while interest in Brighton’s Yankubu Minteh and Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr did not develop further. Iraola’s flexible philosophy, which favors wingers capable of performing on either flank, has helped the team adapt effectively.

Captain Virgil van Dijk acknowledged Salah’s extraordinary contributions but emphasized that Liverpool must look ahead rather than dwell on the past. “What Mo has done for so many years as a winger, let’s hope so, but I don’t think anyone can replicate that,” van Dijk said. He praised the emerging talent exemplified by Barcola and Alexander Isak, whose involvement in the second goal against Brighton showcased the potential for the new generation to assume greater responsibility.

Liverpool are currently enjoying strong form, with four consecutive wins and six victories in seven matches across all competitions. They face a challenging schedule ahead, including encounters with Chelsea in the Carabao Cup and champions Arsenal in the Premier League. Maintaining this momentum remains a primary focus as the club continues its transition.

“At a club like Liverpool, you have to do it every three or four days,” van Dijk noted. “That is always the challenge, but it is a nice challenge. I’m pretty confident that it is going to be fine.”