Life without Mo is not just a big test for now... it’s the future with Saudis still lurking
Our Anfield legend says what everyone else is thinking . . .
But the Egyptian signed off for the Africa Cup of Nations with another brilliant performance against Newcastle on New Year’s Day. And the coming weeks will give an idea about whether the club’s owners could contemplate cashing in on boss Jurgen Klopp’s most coveted asset. Make no mistake, the interest in Salah from Saudi
Arabia’s Pro League is not going away. Liverpool stood firm when Al-ittihad told the Reds to name their price last summer. The bidding started at £50million. It went to £150m before the Saudis realised Salah would not be following Jordan Henderson, Roberto Firmino and Fabinho to the Middle East.
Salah, it was suggested, was offered £141m in wages over a two- year contract to make the move.
Even for a player on around £350,000 a week in the Premier League, that must have been
tempting. Next summer, Salah will only have 12 months left on his Liverpool contract – so expect the interest from the desert to surface quicker than an oil strike.
Liverpool stood firm last year. Klopp didn’t want to lose a player who would virtually guarantee him 30 goals – and Fenway Sports Group president Mike Gordon wisely backed his manager to the hilt.
That stance has reaped the reward of seeing Salah spearhead another title challenge. Two goals and an assist against Newcastle ensured he left for AFCON with Liverpool top of the table. Egypt have been African champions seven times – more than any other country – and are expected to be contenders once again in the Ivory Coast. That scenario would see Salah miss as many as seven matches, starting with today’s FA Cup clash with Arsenal. Most Liverpool fans
Salah could miss as many as seven matches, starting with today’s clash
TIE of the round this weekend is Arsenal v Liverpool, a game that brings back great memories of the day I got my hands on a winner’s medal. I know the 2001 final in Cardiff still rankles with many Gunners fans, considering their team gave us a real going over for 82 minutes. But the magical thing about the Cup is that sometimes it isn’t how you start that matters, it’s how you finish. Thierry Henry (below) is still complaining about Stephane Henchoz getting away with handling his goal-bound shot on the line, which meant Arsenal only had Freddie Ljungberg’s strike to show for their dominance. Arsene Wenger reacted by sending on Ray Parlour for midfield security, from while Gerard Houllier asked Vladimir Smicer and me to rescue the game we off the subs’ bench – and, after Michael Owen equalised in the 83rd minute, five knew we had Arsenal where we wanted them. Then Owen scored again when minutes later. It was a great afternoon in Liverpool’s history – the days the FA Cup meant something more than it does today. A shame because the competition used to be sprinkled with stardust. Mikel Arteta and Jurgen Klopp have bigger things to think about now that this game throws together the current Premier League leaders and the team in fourth. I hope the two clubs serve up another classic at the Emirates. would hope that Klopp still has enough quality in his squad to also negotiate two legs of the EFL Cup semi-final with Fulham and a trip to Bournemouth in the Premier League.
But if Egypt qualify for the business end of AFCON, then Liverpool will possibly be without their talisman against Chelsea, Arsenal and Burnley.
And Salah’s absence could then have a huge impact on the title race.
Klopp will keep his fingers crossed that the tournament doesn’t take too much of a toll on his top forward, both physically and mentally. Liverpool are
Cristiano Ronaldo to the Pro League last winter gave football in Saudi Arabia a huge lift – and other big names have followed. Salah will be 32 next summer and will still be one of the world’s greatest players.
But the fact that he is the No.1 Muslim footballer on the planet would make him even more precious in a country that is the cradle of Islam.
That’s why I’d be amazed if Saudis don’t still have designs on Liverpool’s No.11. I get that supporters are far from a one-man team, but goalscorers win games – that’s why Manchester City can’t wait to get Erling Haaland fit and firing.
Over the course of these next few weeks, Darwin Nunez,
The fact he is the Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota
No.1 Muslim will have to step up. player makes him
If they don’t, this season more precious of rich promise might be derailed by the time Salah returns.
It’s a massive issue for Klopp to deal with in the coming weeks.
But Salah’s long-term future is another conundrum. Attracting
interested in team sheets rather than balance sheets. But the people who run Liverpool have sharp business minds and they will weigh up the value of any player to the club and measure it against his value in the transfer market before acting accordingly.
I would love nothing more than to see Salah end his career in the famous red shirt.
But I am a realist who understands that there will probably be a time – in the not-too-distant future – when a move to Saudi Arabia would be the perfect fit for all parties.