After penning his new Liverpool contract this week, it was always going to be a day of Mohamed Salah songs and celebrations — even if he didn’t get on the scoresheet.
Instead, it was Virgil van Dijk, who is likely the next player to sign an extension at Anfield, who found the back of the net against West Ham United. In doing so, he sent Liverpool a maximum of six points away from winning the Premier League title.
In their own ways, each player summed up in this game why new deals for the pair were so important for Liverpool to get sorted out. Even with the goalscoring role falling to the Reds’ number four rather than their Egyptian King, neither will mind in the end given the title outcome that is edging nearer.
But when Salah was taken off and replaced by Wataru Endo on 85 minutes — to shore things up, in theory, even though there were two more goals after that point — he didn’t look happy. By the final whistle, he was delighted — clapping The Kop as another rendition of his song rang out.
Minutes earlier, Salah looked disgruntled as he slowly walked to the touchline, giving a fist bump to Arne Slot on his way past but no doubt resenting the fact he still hasn’t scored from open play since February.
In many ways, that sums him up neatly: he is relentless in his pursuit of team trophies, but individual perfection too. He didn’t play badly here, far from it, but no one will be more aware than Salah himself that it is now around two months since his last strike that wasn’t from the penalty spot.
(Image: PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Van Dijk, too, was unable to play perfectly against West Ham, contributing to Andy Robertson’s own goal. He made amends three minutes later, though, heading home a powerful winner; it wasn’t the moment that the title was confirmed, clearly, but the resulting delirium didn’t show that.
Once he was done celebrating with his teammates, Van Dijk kissed the Liverpool badge on his jersey as he looked out onto The Kop. He has long made his love of playing for the Reds clear and has always insisted that he was calm about his future. Now, the point when a new deal will finally be confirmed is nearing.
For Salah, it made no sense to take the Saudi millions yet. That he was frustrated at not scoring here showed his determination — desperation, even — to keep breaking records, and the Middle East is no place for someone so hell-bent on being elite. Van Dijk, meanwhile, in the way that he roared and relished his goal, showed exactly why he was never likely to be going anywhere else.
Nothing is publicly confirmed with the Dutch captain, but it is expected that will happen sooner rather than later. Given how much it clearly means to him — just like Salah — Liverpool fans won’t be surprised.
