Jurgen Klopp has declared he is “very positive” that Mohamed Salah will commit his future to Liverpool and insisted there was no need to worry even as contract talks with his top scorer have dragged on.
Salah could leave on a free transfer when his current deal expires next year and put the onus on Liverpool to make him an acceptable offer when he said in an interview this week that he was “not asking for crazy stuff.”
However, the Egyptian is expected to ask for the biggest contract in Liverpool’s history, reflecting his remarkable success in scoring 148 goals in four-and-a-half years, including 23 in 26 games this season.
Liverpool have proved willing to lose players on free transfers, including midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, who Klopp wanted to keep, rather than acceding to their salary demands and breaking their wage structure but Klopp is confident he can keep Salah.
He said: “I know that Mo wants to stay. We want him to stay. That’s the point where we are. These things take time, I can’t change that: sorry. But I think it is all in a good place.”
Klopp replied to a question about supporters being concerned they might lose Salah by adding: “I am very positive about it. I’m pretty sure the fans are not as nervous as you are. But there’s nothing to worry about, it’s a normal process. Mo has a contact here [for] this season and next season. It’s just the situation. All fine, not done, but we had talks. He’s a world-class player, an unbelievable player who did a lot of great stuff for Liverpool. Of course we want to keep him.”
Salah turns 30 in June and Liverpool seemed reluctant to give Wijnaldum a long-term deal at a similar age. But Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are examples of forwards who have proved prolific well into their thirties and Klopp believes Salah’s professionalism and hunger equip him to do likewise.
“It's his character, his determination, the way he trains, his attitude, and work rate,” he said. “It's incredible. First in, last out, doing the right stuff. You can do some not-so-good things when you spend so long in the gym and the training ground, but he knows his body, he knows what to do. He listens to the experts here and tries to improve all the time. He tries to improve for the situation he is in now, and he will not waste it by doing less; I am as convinced as you can be.”
Liverpool 4 Arsenal 0: player ratings
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LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 7. The Brazilian had a relatively quiet evening but kept his concentration to make good saves from Aubameyang and Partey. He was back to his best after his nightmare against West Ham. AFP -
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 8. The 23-year-old set up the first and fourth goals and stretched Ramsdale with a shot. An excellent display at both ends of the pitch. Reuters -
Joel Matip – 7. The centre-back glided through the game and was rarely worried. He took the opportunity to stride into the midfield to spark attacks. AFP -
Virgil van Dijk – 7. The Dutchman produced a superb sliding challenge to deny Aubameyang in the box. It was the highlight of a commanding outing. AP Photo -
Kostas Tsimikas – 7. The Greek filled in admirably for Robertson and clamped down on Saka. He worked hard and used the ball effectively. Reuters -
Fabinho – 8. The Brazilian patrolled the midfield and set the tempo. His magnificent saving tackle on an Arsenal break stopped Aubameyang charging clear and underlined his importance to the team. AFP -
Thiago Alcantara – 7. The 30-year-old showed off his clever passing and ensured that Arsenal were kept on the back foot. His effort at goal went straight at Ramsdale. He was taken off with six minutes to go to give Morton a runout. Getty Images -
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – 7. The 28-year-old relished the chance to play against his former club. He attacked with gusto and defended with purpose, making a fine sliding clearance in own box. Withdrawn for Henderson with 14 minutes left. Reuters -
Mohamed Salah – 9. The Egyptian menaced the defence and his touch and intelligence were on a different level to his opponents. He earned his reward with the third goal. Getty Images -
Diogo Jota – 7. The Portuguese loves playing against Arsenal. His goal brought his tally against the London club to five and the away side were relieved when he was replaced by Minamino in the 76th minute. AFP -
Sadio Mane - 8. The Senegalese took the battle to Arsenal and made Tomiyasu's life a misery. He produced a classic striker’s header for the opener and set up Salah’s goal. AFP -
SUB: Takumi Minamino – 7. If Arsenal expected any respite when Jota left the pitch in the 76th minute they were sorely disappointed. The Japanese arrived and made his mark by scoring with his first touch. AFP -
SUB: Jordan Henderson – 7. The 31-year-old replaced Oxlade-Chamberlain with 14 minutes left and immediately played a part in Minamino’s goal. AP Photo -
SUB: Tyler Morton – 6. The 19-year-old was given a Premier League debut when he came on for Thiago and will always remember his six-minute cameo. AP -
ARSENAL RATINGS: Aaron Ramsdale – 5. The 23-year-old seemed to be enjoying the game when Liverpool were shooting straight at him. Once the home side got their directions right, it wasn’t so much fun for the goalkeeper. Reuters -
Takehiro Tomiyasu – 4. The Japanese was vulnerable to the press and got roughed up by Mane. He left White exposed for the third goal by getting caught upfield. Reuters -
Ben White – 5. The 24-year-old has a tendency to dwell on the ball when attempting to pass out from the back. It almost cost him twice. He was dragged wide for the third goal and could not stop Mane’s advance. AFP -
Gabriel – 4. The Brazilian’s positioning and body shape were suspect before the opening goal. He was frequently unsure of what was going on around him as Liverpool piled on the pressure in the second half. Reuters -
Nuno Tavares – 3. The Portuguese played the sloppiest of passes to allow Jota to score. He was out of his depth against the raiding Salah. AFP -
Bukayo Saka – 6. The 20-year-old started well and showed hints of danger but faded as Liverpool asserted their authority. Being the best player in the team was not much of a recommendation. AFP -
Thomas Partey – 4. The Ghanaian struggled to get involved. He tested Alisson from distance but did not impose himself in the midfield. He was replaced by Elneny in the 84th minute. AFP -
Albert Sambi Lokonga - 3. The Belgian was wasteful on the ball and did not apply much pressure on his opponents. He was taken off eight minutes into the second half for Maitland-Niles. EPA -
Emile Smith Rowe – 4. The 21-year-old showed some nice touches but they were largely in peripheral areas. A disappointing effort from a talented player. AFP -
Alexandre Lacazette – 4. The Frenchman put through a wonderful pass for Aubameyang but it was his only highlight. He was taken off for Odegaard moments later in the 67th minute. Getty Images -
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 4. The Gabonese was left isolated. He made a clever run to generate one chance but Alisson was equal to his shot from a narrow angle. Getty Images -
SUB: Ainsley Maitland-Niles – 4. The 24-year-old replaced Sambi Lokonga in the 53rd minute. He did not add much to his team’s resistance. Getty Images -
SUB: Martin Odegaard – 4. The Norwegian joined the action at Lacazette’s expense with 23 minutes to go. He was largely anonymous. AP -
SUB: Mohamed Elneny – 5. The Egyptian entered the game in the 84th minute in place of Partey. By that time it was a damage limitation exercise. Getty Images
Liverpool get a glimpse of life without Salah when they take on Arsenal on Thursday. The Egyptian was among the scorers when they beat Mikel Arteta’s team 4-0 in November and Klopp said: “Arsenal was in a good moment then and is now maybe in an even better moment. They play exciting football and Mikel is doing an exceptional job.”
This is the belated first leg of the League Cup semi-final after last week’s game was postponed because of false positive tests at Anfield. Now the African Cup of Nations means Salah, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita are absent, while Divock Origi and Thiago Alcantara remain injured but Trent Alexander-Arnold has recovered from coronavirus and Alisson Becker is back in contention. Takumi Minamino and Roberto Firmino, who were not deemed fit enough to start Sunday’s FA Cup win over Shrewsbury, when each came off the bench, could be senior starters in attack.
But Klopp is also considering using Kaide Gordon, the 17-year-old winger who became the second youngest scorer in Liverpool’s history at the weekend. “Kaide is always in our mind because he is an exceptional talent,” he said.
