From Mohamed Salah to Rio Ngumoha – Liverpool's new era is unfolding before our eyes

The baton is being passed from one generation to another at Liverpool. For Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah, this is the long goodbye. The much-loved duo stood in front of the Kop applauding as they were serenaded following Saturday’s 2-0 Premier League victory over Fulham. The emotion will continue to increase in the lead-up to their Anfield farewell against Brentford on May 24. Liverpool will be losing two legendary figures who did not just make huge contributions to a glorious era on the field, but also set the standards with how they conducted themselves off it. New leaders in the dressing room will need to emerge to fill the void. “I knew my song would probably get sung a couple of times,” vice-captain Robertson, who confirmed on Thursday he will leave when his contract expires at the end of the season, told Sky Sports. “This club means everything to me. It’s made me who I am today, so I owe them a lot. I’m just going to try to enjoy and embrace every minute I’m at this football club.” Come the summer, only captain Virgil van Dijk, Alisson and Joe Gomez will remain from the squad which won the Champions League final against Tottenham Hotspur in Madrid in 2019. That trio are all out of contract in 2027. With change comes uncertainty and there’s plenty of that surrounding Liverpool right now. Can they still salvage something from this season of gloom as the focus shifts to Tuesday’s European assignment against Paris Saint-Germain, when they will attempt to overturn a two-goal first-leg deficit? Will Arne Slot be trusted with continuing to guide them through this period of transition beyond May? The answers will soon be apparent. Hope has been in short supply of late, with three successive defeats denting the club’s pursuit of a top-five Premier League finish, ending their involvement in the FA Cup and leaving them on the brink of a Champions League exit. The mentality and quality of those players brought in at great expense as a new team evolves has been called i...