Liverpool's Mohamed Salah situation is a disgrace - FSG must act this week
Of every player across Europe's top five leagues, only three have more combined goals and assists than Mohamed Salah this season. None of them play in the Premier League - the toughest in world football.
Salah's Premier League tally stands at 10 goals and six assists from 12 matches. In six cup games, he has also another two goals and four assists. For a man who turns 33 next June, he is still every bit the match-winner he was in that insane first season at Anfield.
The legendary forward has been directly responsible for 66 per cent of Liverpool's 24 league goals and 17 of their table-topping 31 points have come through his goals and assists. Without him, they would be 13th with 14 points and just three wins, per Opta.
It is alarming for the club's fanbase then that Salah is yet to receive any offers to extend his contract. He said after the 3-2 win at Southampton: "I'm probably more out than in. I have been in the club for many years. There is no club like this. But in the end it is not in my hands.
"It is December and I haven't received anything yet about my future. I love the fans. The fans love me. In the end it is not in my hands or the fans' hands. Let's wait and see. I'm not going to retire soon so I'm just playing, focusing on the season and I'm trying to win the Premier League and hopefully the Champions League as well.
Related articles Mohamed Salah makes thoughts on Man City slump clear as Liverpool open gap Dominik Szoboszlai has Mohamed Salah message for Liverpool owners FSG Mohamed Salah calls out Liverpool chiefs in honest interview about future"I'm disappointed but we will see. I'm very professional. Everybody can see my work ethic. I'm just trying to enjoy my football and I will play at the top level as long as possible. I'm just doing my best because this is who I am and I try to give it all for myself and for the club. We will see what happens next."
Salah's not lying. He is a player primed to be an elite-level difference-maker for years to come still. The Egyptian King has already done it for eight consecutive years now, silencing the doubters who thought he might be a one-season wonder. His 'worst' season still saw him produce 37 goals and assists.
const loadOvpScript=()=>{let el=document.createElement('script');el.setAttribute('src','https://live.primis.tech/live/liveView.php?s=114291&vp_content=plembed3e7arguyxmsj&cbuster=%%CACHEBUSTER%%&playerApiId=v114291');document.getElementById('ovp-primis').appendChild(el)};window.top.addEventListener('primisPlayerInit',e=>{try{if(e.detail&&e.detail.playerApiId==="v114291"){if(window.document.getElementsByClassName('jwplayer')[0]){e.detail.float('disable')}}}catch(e){}});window.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded',()=>{setTimeout(()=>{if(typeof flagTcfLoaded!=='undefined'&&flagTcfLoaded===!0){loadOvpScript();ExpressApp.Log('[Load] OVP flagTcfLoaded',new Date())}else{document.addEventListener("tcfLoaded",()=>{loadOvpScript();ExpressApp.Log('[Load] OVP tcfLoaded',new Date())})}},1500)})He's already on 22 this season from just 18 matches across all competitions. Salah, 32, is Liverpool's fifth-highest goalscorer of all time. He will rise to number two if his time on Merseyside is extended.
What Liverpool's data-crunchers will be working out is: how long can he continue to do this? There are some things the data qill not quantify about him. What it will show is the No.11 is a born difference-maker and absolutely revels in that fact.
Just look at his celebrations after scoring Liverpool's winner at Southampton. He's the headline act and he loves it. And he holds himself, and his team-mates, to relentlessly high standards. Salah said recently: "I know there's some games where I don't have the momentum, I don't have the game, but I'm always focused in the game.
Mohamed Salah remains the go-to difference-maker for Liverpool (Image: GETTY)"Johnny (Heitinga) when he came here this year, he's like, 'Oh Mo, you're not playing good today!' and I say, 'Yeah, but I always find a moment!' I'm not always very good in the game, it's normal, we're still human, but I always try to find a way to change a game."
And so often he does. The Egypt captain is still there, popping up to decide a match, week after week, month after month.
Salah has also not truly received enough credit outside of Merseyside too for the fact he has adapted his game in recent seasons, reinventing his game to become as high-quality a creator as he is a goalscorer.
Sporting director Richard Hughes' task is therefore simple. Anything other than extending Salah's deal this season would spark utter outrage at Anfield, even if Slot delivers the title at the end of May. He simply has to stay.
It is disgraceful that the Reds have allowed it to even get to this stage, with just over 40 days until he can negotiate with foreign clubs about a free transfer next summer. A proposal needs to be tabled imminently to avoid Liverpool heading into the second half of what could be a successful season with this distraction lurking menacingly in the background.
Going back to what the data cannot quantify, his influence at the club extends well beyond the pitch, as made clear in a recent video on the club's YouTube channel alongside Alisson and Andy Robertson.
Robertson explained: "Everyone comes in and the most excited person they are to see is Mo, usually the young players and new players. Then they see how much he commits to his craft.
Related articles Liverpool player ratings vs Southampton as Mohamed Salah saves 5/10 trio in win Man Utd, Liverpool and Chelsea have six players at risk of Premier League bans Player who quit Liverpool says 'I was right to leave' despite Arne Slot success SUBSCRIBE Invalid emailWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Mohamed Salah has spent eight seasons at Anfield (Image: GETTY)"They then take that on board. I've seen so many players come in and all of a sudden they're in the gym so early before training and that's because of him."
As a role model, they don't come much better than Salah. He is a truly generational talent - a player genuinely irreplaceable because of his role in the dressing room; how he sets the standards and helps create a winning culture. And of course his impact on the pitch, his ability to rise to the moment when Liverpool need him most, his hunger to decide the biggest of matches and to bend them to his own will.
Liverpool, of course, operate responsibly with their finances. But in Salah they have the most tried-and-tested of players. It would cost significantly more to replace him than it would to bet on him continuing to produce into his mid-30s.
Fenway Sports Group and Hughes would be extraordinarily brave not to make it their top priority to get Salah tied down. Salah is producing on the pitch, now Liverpool must produce off it. No pressure.
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah situation is a disgrace - FSG must act this week
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah situation is a disgrace - FSG must act this week
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah situation is a disgrace - FSG must act this week
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah situation is a disgrace - FSG must act this week
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah situation is a disgrace - FSG must act this week
Play online games for free at games.easybranches.com
Guest Post Services www.easybranches.com/contribute