‘In more than out’ was Liverpool’s cheeky response when the news broke, a playful nod to Mo Salah’s now infamous chat with Merseyside journalists after a victory at Southampton in November. It seems everyone can see the funny side now.
However, there was a time when laughter wasn’t on the cards, as the contract stalemate involving the Premier League season’s standout player dragged on. Remarkably though, this didn’t seem to impact either Salah or Liverpool’s performances, at least not until recently.
The main man behind this stability is the first reason why Salah has turned down the chance to amass what BBC Sport estimates could be a $650M fortune by moving to Saudi Arabia this summer.
So much could have gone awry with the appointment of Arne Slot who lacks Jurgen Klopp’s track record and knack for memorable quotes. However, Slot already appears as if he’s been part of the Liverpool setup for years, and he’s on the brink of leading the Reds to only their second league title in over three decades.
Rewind to last summer and there was a palpable sense of unease about how Slot would fare stepping into the role of a legend, especially with the additional backstage shake-up involving Richard Hughes’ appointment as sporting director and Michael Edwards’ return as FSG’s head of football. The contract situations of Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold were set to unfold in these uncertain times.
Every player, from the rest of the squad to the global fanbase, had every right to reserve judgement on what the post-Klopp era would look like. However, Salah has been particularly impressed by Slot.
Both the Reds’ forward and his agent Ramy Abbas Issa – whose most recent Twitter post before Friday morning praised the Dutchman for being ‘excellent at his job’ – have liked what they’ve seen. Given the turbulent end under Klopp, this has been crucial.
(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
In his post-contract interview, Salah may have emphasized that team awards hold more value to him than individual accolades like, say, the Ballon d’Or. But for a significant part of this season, the Egyptian has been among the favourites to secure that prestigious solo prize, and he’s still fourth in the betting.
Frankly, he wouldn’t get the same level of exposure playing in the Saudi Pro League as he does at the pinnacle of the Premier League and European football. Sure, Salah is driven by scoring goals and winning matches, but he also thrives on the attention that comes with it. As a nearly 33 year old in exceptional physical shape, there’s no better stage for him than the Premier League.
While Saudi may be a future prospect, former team-mates Jordan Henderson, Gini Wijnaldum, Roberto Firmino, Fabinho and Sadio Mane could offer insights into moving there prematurely.
Wherever Salah goes, he shatters goalscoring records. The third reason for his decision to stay at Liverpool is simple: There are more milestones to reach.
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This phenomenal season has already seen Salah, with 243 goals, climb to third in Liverpool’s all-time top scorer list. Ian Rush, at No. 1 with 346, might seem out of reach, but don’t tell Salah that. Roger Hunt, at No. 2 with 285, is just 42 goals away, and that’s Salah’s next target.
In the Premier League rankings, he’s tied fifth with Sergio Aguero on 184, meaning his next goal will make him the highest-scoring foreign player in the division’s history. Andy Cole (187) is within reach this season, and he’ll be aiming to surpass Wayne Rooney (208) and Harry Kane (213) in the 2025-26 campaign.
He’s undoubtedly got a slew of other records in his sights, fully aware of them and knowing when he’s on the brink of breaking them. His commitment to stay at Liverpool signifies that the record books will need constant updating, with his name featuring prominently more often than not.
