They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Liverpool only needed to post a solitary picture of a throne to instantly send thousands upon thousands of fans wild.
That a picture of what is, in essence, a random empty chair could instantly elicit that response tells you we’re not dealing with just any ordinary player – we’re dealing with no less than a king.
The prayers of countless Liverpool supporters have now been answered with Mohamed Salah signing a new contract. Should he stay for the duration of his two-year deal, we’ll have been blessed with a decade of the Egyptian doing what he does best.
On paper, this should have always been a no-brainer. Considering the sort of numbers he’s been putting up this season, a new contract for Salah should have been a foregone conclusion.
In practice though, FSG have essentially had to throw out their usual methods to make an offer. A two-year deal for a 32-year-old is certainly out of the ordinary for Liverpool’s owners, but even they cannot ignore the majesty of Salah.
If it wasn’t already, his legacy as a Liverpool legend is now secure. Being a great player is one thing – the Reds have had plenty of those – but adding loyalty to the mix takes you onto a whole new level for supporters.
Jamie Carragher has previously suggested that Salah should be considered among the top five greatest players in Liverpool’s history. The only players he listed ahead of him were Ian Rush, Graeme Souness, Steven Gerrard and Sir Kenny Dalglish.
(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Salah has certainly cemented his position among those greats now. Whether he can overtake any of them is another matter.
Goalscorers are inevitably looked upon more favorably than other players, so you suspect Souness might be the obvious one to move down the list if there are to be any adjustments. The other three though still hold something over Salah.
For Rush, it’s goals – Salah is third on the club’s all-time top scorers list, and he could well move up to second by the end of his new contract. He will need to extend his stay though if he is to overhaul Liverpool’s greatest ever hitman.
In Gerrard’s case, it’s his greatness amid adversity that sets him apart. That he is still being held up higher than serial winners like Kevin De Bruyne tells you all you need to know about his impact as a player.
Dalglish, meanwhile, is pretty much the complete package. Probably Liverpool’s greatest ever player who led the club to unprecedented success.
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Salah is undoubtedly deserving of his place among those greats, and though he might not be able to overhaul Gerrard and Dalglish in the minds of supporters, there is still one thing he can achieve that even the greatest Reds couldn’t.
In the rich history of a club like Liverpool, it’s astounding that only one player has ever won the Ballon d’Or while representing the club. What’s even more surprising is that accolade belongs to none other than Michael Owen – a man whose legacy will be forever tainted in the eyes of many supporters.
Salah’s chances of lifting the biggest individual prize in soccer this season have taken a major hit after the Reds’ exit from the Champions League, and you’d bet good money on one of Real Madrid or Barcelona’s superstars now taking home the prize.
But there’s still time for Salah. After all, Luka Modric won the award at the age of 33, and with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s monopoly now over, there is space for a serial goal machine to claim the golden ball over the next couple of years.
There’s absolutely no doubt Salah can do it, and write yet another chapter in his storied legacy. Long live the Egyptian King.
