The Saudi Pro League got back underway thid errk following its mid-season break and, as ever, it remains a tale of mixed fortunes for the Gulf State’s former Liverpool stars. While Jordan Henderson cut short his time in the Middle East after just half-a-season last January, Fabinho, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Gini Wijnaldum are all still plying their trade in Saudi Arabia.

For Fabinho, it has been a memorable season so far and one the Brazilian will be desperate to replicate in 2025.

His Al-Ittihad side currently sit first in the Saudi Pro League table after 13 games played, two points clear of reigning champions Al-Hilal.

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Having won 12 and lost just one of their league matches to date - which came against Al-Hilal - Al-Ittihad are also in pursuit of a possible league and cup double.

They beat Al-Hilal on penalties in the King’s Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday after a 2-2 draw, with the former Reds midfielder scoring in the shoot-out.

Fabinho has been a stand-out player for Al-Ittihad this season, emerging as an ever-present in the Saudi Pro League while also starting all three King’s Cup matches. He’s scored twice and also captained his side on five occasions from 16 appearances.

But while the Brazilian is enjoying an eye-catching campaign for Al-Ittihad - whose campaign resumes away at Al Feiha on Saturday - it is a different story for his former Liverpool team-mates.

Sadio Mane and Al-Nassr might boast Cristiano Ronaldo within their ranks, but they are off the pace at the top of the Saudi Pro League table. Runners-up last season, they are currently third and trail Al-Ittihad by eight points, having played a game more.

While they have already booked their place in the AFC Champions League Elite knockout stage, they exited the King’s Cup at the round-of-16 stage in October, and lost 4-1 to Al-Hilal in the Saudi Super Cup final back in August.

As for Mane on an individual basis, he has started all but one of his 24 appearances for Al-Nassr this season. While he has returned seven goals and six assists, only five of his goals have come in the Saudi Pro League, and he has only actually netted in three league matches.

He had also scored just once and registered no assists from his last 12 appearances heading into the mid-season break, though ended that drought by netting a brace and winning a penalty in their return match as Al-Nassr beat Al-Okhdood 3-1 on Thursday. Regardless, he is still currently on track for perhaps the worst scoring season of his top-flight career.

Firmino and Al-Ahli sit two points and two placex behind Al-Nassr in fifth - having finished third last season - with it proving to be another mixed campaign for the Brazilian to date.

Like Mane and Al-Nassr, they have already booked their place in the AFC Champions League Elite knockout stage, but they were knocked out of the King’s Cup in the first round and the Saudi Super Cup in the semi-finals.

Firmino has started 14 of his 20 appearances in all competitions, returning six goals and four assists, while he remains Al-Ahli’s captain when he starts.

Yet he was benched six times during an eight-game run back in October, with his future remaining the subject of speculation as a result. It was a similar story for the Brazilian last season as he found himself benched amid a six-month scoring drought, and was linked with a move away from the club both in January and the summer as supporters turned on the former Liverpool man.

While he has fared better on an individual basis this season, that has not stopped Firmino from supposedly being offered to other clubs. Egyptian side Zamalek are one such club according to vice-president Hesham Nasr.

"Mediators offered the name of Brazilian Roberto Firmino, striker for the Saudi Al-Ahli team, to the Board of Directors to sign him during the current winter transfer period,” Nasr revealed to Saudi newspaper Al-Eqtisadiah. "The contract with Firmino depends on the decision of Swiss coach Christian Gross and the financial matters regarding the deal."

Al-Ahli returning to action with a 3-2home victory over Al-Shabab on Friday, as Firmino started and recorded an assist. But with the Saudi transfer window remaining open until January 30, it remains to be seen if the forward stays put despite such speculation for the third transfer window in a row.

The fact that Zamalek have not jumped at the opportunity to sign him, even if put down to just financial reasons rather than footballing, is a telling sign of how his star has fallen since leaving Anfield.

And considering Mane and Firmino's former strike-partner Mohamed Salah is currently enjoying the season of his life back at Liverpool, returning an incredible 21 goals and 17 assists from just 28 appearances, the Senegalese and Brazilian's flailing fortunes and diminished returns in comparison will not be lost on those of a Reds persuasion.

Three years ago, they were still Jurgen Klopp's first-choice attacking trio. Liverpool bosses' decision to retain Salah on a new contract in the summer of 2022 - making him the best paid player in the club's history - while sanctioning Mane's departure to Bayern Munich and letting Firmino see out the final year of his Reds contract has certainly paid off.

Meanwhile, it has been another disappointing season for Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq. Captained by Wijnaldum - who succeeded Henderson following his mid-season exit last year - they currently sit 11th in the table with just 15 points.

The Netherlands international has been an ever-present, starting all 16 of his appearances in all competitions and registering three goals and an assist. However, Ettifaq endured a nine-game winless run in the Saudi Pro League, which only ended in their final outing before the winter break.

However, they suffered a heart-breaking defeat on their return to action on Friday as they lost 3-2 at home to Al-Kholood despite scoring a 96th minute equaliser.

Gerrard has found himself under increasing pressure after fans started to turn on him during the aforementioned losing. While the Liverpool legend retained the support of his bosses despite such backlash, Ettifaq sacked assistant coach Dean Holden and sporting director Mark Allen back in November.

Meanwhile, after joining on loan to replace Henderson last January, Ettifaq have now lost Seko Fofana after Wijnaldum’s midfield partner cut short a season-long loan move from Al-Nassr to return to Ligue 1 and sign for Rennes.

Having still only won once since the end of September, Gerrard’s Ettifaq have it all to do to turn around their campaign in the second half of the season with their latest defeat doing nothing to reverse their fortune.