Scorers were deep in conversation about half an hour after the final whistle. Kevin de Bruyne was in his flip-flops after conducting a few post-match interviews. Mohamed Salah was in his tracksuit, bag in hand, a man who had sped past Manchester City defenders seemingly looking to make a quick getaway.
Perhaps De Bruyne was reflecting that the only league goals a City side who have displayed plenty of steel have conceded since the opening day came courtesy of Salah’s wizardry. It took something special to break them down but, whether or not the Belgian mentioned it, an amiable chat concluded with a hug.
If the impression was of a mutual-admiration society, Salah received plenty of other plaudits. Sunday’s virtuoso display included an assist for Sadio Mane and a sublime solo goal. Thinking of the late Roger Hunt, Liverpool’s top scorer in the 1960s, Jurgen Klopp described it as the kind of goal that will be spoken about at Anfield in 50 or 60 years’ time.
Certainly Salah has become the sort of figure who will be remembered long after he has left. Jamie Carragher, both a student of Liverpool history and a large part of it, has argued the Egyptian would get in the club’s all-time 11. Longevity can form part of a case and, at 29, Salah could yet rival Hunt, who has 285 goals to his 134, for the title of the their second highest scorer, behind only Ian Rush.
If, that is, he stays. Salah has entered the final two years of his deal. Liverpool announced a raft of new contracts in the summer, tying down Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson, Virgil van Dijk, Fabinho and Jordan Henderson. But not Salah: there seems to be an impasse.
Salah may be asking for a sum that would render him the Premier League’s best-paid player. On form, he is the finest. While potential title rivals invested heavily in forwards, whether Romelu Lukaku, Cristiano Ronaldo or Jadon Sancho, Salah is the division’s joint top scorer, potentially on course for a third Golden Boot winner, and its most eviscerating attacking force.
But Liverpool’s decision is complicated. Their wage bill has ballooned as players have been rewarded for improvement and excellence. However, there are limits. They did not accede to Gini Wijnaldum’s pay demands and a talisman left on a free transfer, even though Klopp would rather have kept him. With Salah, the question is where the false economy lies.
Liverpool 2 Manchester City 2: player ratings
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LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 6. A couple of early moments evoked memories of his dreadful performance against City in February, but the Brazilian made important saves when needed. He was unlucky with the deflection on City’s second goal. Reuters -
James Milner - 3. The 35-year-old could not handle Foden. He was very lucky not to be sent off after bringing down Silva while on a yellow card. He was taken off almost immediately afterward for Gomez. AFP -
Joel Matip - 6. The centre-back got his body into a strange shape and deflected De Bruyne’s shot into the net. He defended stoutly and brought the ball out of defence capably. AFP -
Virgil van Dijk - 6. The Dutchman handled City's ploy of playing Grealish down the middle with ease. He looked tentative early on but grew into the game. Getty Images -
Andrew Robertson - 5. The Scot was kept occupied by Jesus and was unable to get upfield and produce the kind of crosses that Liverpool strikers feed off. EPA -
Fabinho - 4. The Brazilian was far too casual and spurned a late chance when the goal was yawning in front of him. He saw the ball late but should have shot first time instead of taking a touch. He looked ponderous in midfield. Getty Images -
Jordan Henderson - 4. The captain was poor in possession and did little to disrupt City’s pattern of play. A disappointing display. Getty Images -
Curtis Jones - 4. The 20-year-old lacked his usual energy. His strength is running with the ball and he did little to trouble the City defence. Reuters -
Sadio Mane - 7. The Senegalese was finding it hard to make an impact but kept moving and working. His goal was a reward for persistence as much as brilliance. Getty Images -
Mohamed Salah - 9. It looked like nothing was coming off for the Egyptian but he can turn a game in a moment. His run and pass to Mane for the first goal showed his genius but he upstaged that with a wriggling run and clinical shot for the second. AFP -
Diogo Jota - 5. The Portuguese laboured to get into the game and managed to test Ederson just once. Withdrawn in the 68th minute for Firmino. Getty Images -
SUB: Roberto Firmino - 5. Joined the action with 22 minutes to go at Jota’s expense. He saw little of the ball and could not influence the game. AFP -
SUB: Joe Gomez - 6. Sent on in the 78th minute after Milner surprisingly escaped a red card. The defence looked more solid for his presence. AFP -
MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson - 5. The Brazilian was excellent with his feet but should have done better with Salah’s goal. He also flapped at a cross that presented a late chance to Fabinho. Getty -
Kyle Walker - 6. The Englishman kept a tight rein on Mane, whose goal came on the other side. He was good on the ball going forward, too. Getty Images -
Ruben Dias - 6. The Portuguese made some important blocks and was composed in possession. A moment of confusion with Laporte opened up the space for Mane to score. Getty Images -
Aymeric Laporte - 5. The 27-year-old should have done better for both Liverpool goals. A comfortable day turned ugly quickly for the centre-back. Reuters -
Joao Cancelo - 4. The Portuguese was superb going forward but not so clever in defence. He needed to pay more attention to stopping the opposition because he neglected his responsibilities for both goals. Reuters -
Rodri - 8. The Spaniard made a poor attempt to stop Salah for the first goal but this brilliant sliding challenge saved a point for his team. He set the tempo in midfield. Getty -
Kevin De Bruyne - 7. The Belgian had a number of chances and should have scored with a diving header. Just as it looked as if he was having a sub-par outing he popped up to score the second equaliser. Getty Images -
Bernardo Silva - 7. A composed and dynamic performance for most of the game. He left the Liverpool midfield chasing shadows but got sat down by Salah before the Egyptian striker’s goal. AFP -
Gabriel Jesus - 7. The Brazilian set up Foden’s leveller and kept Robertson pinned down. He toiled away for the team in a less than glamorous role. AFP -
Phil Foden - 9. The 21-year-old made life miserable for Milner. He showed his superstar credentials, scored City’s first equaliser and oozed class. Getty Images -
Jack Grealish - 4. The 26-year-old was deployed up the middle to start the game and found it hard to get into the action. He was taken off with 24 minutes to go and replaced by Sterling. Getty Images -
SUB: Raheem Sterling - 6. The winger came on for Grealish in the 66th minute. He sent in a tempting cross that Liverpool scrambled to clear and made some good runs that came to nothing. AFP
“Imagine if we would have to buy this boy now,” said Klopp, when Van Dijk re-signed. The same may be said of Liverpool’s Egyptian king. Salah is the one-season wonder who has become the every-season marvel, the guarantee of goals. When Liverpool spend less than their peers in the transfer market, the match-winners they already possess compensate.
Liverpool can be reluctant to give long deals to players who might decline; they have a front three born within nine months of each other. Yet Salah’s chiselled physique and effortless acceleration indicate he has much more to give, whereas Roberto Firmino can feel worn down by his relentless running. The idiosyncratic nature of Klopp’s tactics, where the wingers outscore the supposed striker, may make it still harder to unearth a suitable replacement.
But the issue has rumbled on in the background for a while. There have been occasional hints that Salah has cast his gaze towards Spain, though Barcelona’s financial crisis and Real Madrid’s obsession with Kylian Mbappe may rule out either as a destination. If Salah’s best option may be to remain at Anfield, there is no doubt Liverpool have to find a way to keep him. The cost of losing him could be too great.
