Mohamed Salah says that he will still be at Liverpool next season but refused to discuss how his new contract negotiations are progressing.
Salah, joint top scorer in the Premier League this season with Tottenham Hotspur attacker Son Heung-min after notching 23 goals, is heading into the final year of his current deal and would be available for a free transfer at the end of next season if he does not sign an extension.
Liverpool take on Real Madrid in the Champions League final on Saturday looking to seal a third trophy this season, having won the League Cup and FA Cup, as well as finishing just one point behind champions Manchester City in the Premier League.
But, speaking ahead of the game in Paris, Salah remains non-committal on his future at Anfield beyond 2023. “I don't want to talk about the contract. I'm staying next season for sure, let's see after that,” the 29-year-old Egyptian said at Liverpool's pre-match media day on Wednesday.
“In my mind I don't focus about the contract. I don't want to be selfish, it's about the team. It's a really important week for us, I want to see Hendo [Jordan Henderson] having the trophy again in his hands.”
Salah's fellow forward Sadio Mane has also refused to commit his long-term future to the Merseyside club. The 30-year-old Senegal international is also out of contract in 2023 and has been linked with a move to Bayern Munich.
“This question [about my future] I will answer after Champions League,” Mane told Sky Sports. “If I'm staying or not, I'm going to answer after Champions League.”
Salah, meanwhile, is looking forward to the opportunity of dishing out some revenge on Real Madrid, who defeated Liverpool 3-1 in the 2018 final.
Liverpool 3 Wolves 1: player ratings
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LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 8 The Brazilian was put under unexpected pressure but made a series of splendid saves. Without him the game would have been out of sight before Liverpool went into the lead. EPA -
Trent Alexander-Arnold 5 Wolves got in behind the 23-year-old. The risk-reward factor is a feature of his game but his crossing going forward did not yield enough success on a difficult afternoon. AFP -
Joel Matip 6 The 30-year-old was Liverpool’s most composed defender but was turned too often and no centre back is comfortable facing their own goal. He was unable to make the most of his ability to step out of defence with the ball. AP -
Ibrahima Konate - 5 The Frenchman got under the ball before Neto’s goal. His pass started the move for the equaliser but he never looked secure. EPA -
Andrew Robertson - 6 The Scot scored the third goal but his raiding forward did not have its usual impact. Wolves got too much joy in the space behind him. Getty -
Jordan Henderson - 5 The captain could not exert control of the midfield. He is normally effective in screening the defence but he was unable to stop the opposition’s quick breaks. PA -
Thiago Alcantara - 8 The 31-year-old was the standout player in the first half and his backheeled pass to Mane for the equaliser was sublime. He picked up a hamstring injury, though, and was replaced by Milner at half time. Getty -
Naby Keita - 6 The Guinean tried to get forward but was wasteful in possession. He made way for Firmino in the 70th minute as Liverpool threw everything at the opposition goal. AFP -
Luis Diaz - 6 The Colombian was lively in the first half but struggled to get involved in the second period. He beat the ground in frustration after one late effort. It was that sort of day. AP -
Sadio Mane - 8 The Senegalese levelled the scores and was relentless in his effort. His appetite to win the ball back was impressive. AP -
Diogo Jota - 6 The Portuguese put in plenty of legwork but did not cause enough problems for his former club. He made way for Salah in the 58th minute. AP -
SUBS: James Milner - 6 The 36-year-old came on for Thiago after the break. He was calm on the ball and quick to tackle but never stamped his authority on the game. Getty -
Mohamed Salah - 7 The Egyptian replaced Jota in the 58th minute. His shooting was rushed and sometimes misguided but he seized a share of the golden boot with a clever backheeled goal. EPA -
Roberto Firmino - 6 The Brazilian joined the action in the 70th minute at Keita’s expense. His passing was scattergun but he set up Robertson to score the third. EPA -
WOLVES RATINGS: Jose Sa - 6 Most of the Portuguese’s work came in claiming mis-hit crosses. He was injured just before the break and replaced by Ruddy after half time. AP -
Willy Boly - 7 The 31-year-old stood strong against the Liverpool onslaught. He blocked an Alexander-Arnold shot and made a last-gasp tackle that stopped Salah from scoring. EPA -
Conor Coady - 7 The boyhood Liverpool fan gave everything and put his body on the line. He stopped a Diaz shot with his face, a moment that encapsulated his performance. AP -
Toti Gomes - 6 The Portuguese dealt with the pressure until close to the end. He claimed a penalty early in the second half when Konate pushed him in the back. PA -
Jonny - 6 The Spaniard was given a tough time by Diaz but battled hard. He was wasteful in possession and could have been better on the ball. AP -
Leander Dendoncker - 6 The Belgian got up and down the field, helping the defence and contributing to counter-attacks. His finishing was poor and he should have put his side two goals up after a Neto pass. AP -
Ruben Neves - 6 The 25-year-old had more time on the ball than he might have expected against the Liverpool press. He could have used his possession more cleverly. EPA -
Joao Moutinho - 6 The 35-year-old was effective and used the ball well for the first hour. He faded as Liverpool piled on the pressure. Getty -
Rayan Ait-Nouri - 6 The Frenchman got into good positions going forward but was too often overlooked by his team-mates. His defending was solid until the final phase of the game. AP -
Pedro Neto - 7 The Portuguese caused the defence all manner of problems. He took his goal superbly and presented Dendoncker with a splendid opportunity. Unfortunately, he had to limp off injured in the 22nd minute and make way for Hwang EPA -
Raul Jimenez - 7 The Mexican picked out Neto for the opener. He had the perfect chance to kill the game in the second half but his cross to Hwang was overhit. AFP -
SUBS: Hwang Hee-chan - 4 The South Korean replaced Neto after 22 minutes and should have scored when one-on-one with Alisson. His passing was as poor as his finishing. AFP -
John Ruddy - 6 The 35-year-old came on for Sa at half time. He was overrun in the last 10 minutes but could do little to stop the goals. Getty -
Francisco Trincao - 5 The 22-year-old was given a brief run-out, replacing Dendoncker in the final minute. There was nothing he could do to affect the game. Getty
The attacker's game in Kyiv ended early after landing heavily on the ground, dislocating his left shoulder, following a tussle with Real defender Sergio Ramos.
Salah left the field in tears and watched the remainder of the match on TV in the locker room as Liverpool, deprived of their key attacker, lost the match.
“It was the worst moment in my career,” he said. “I had a good season and playing the Champions League final I had to come off after 30 minutes.
“After the game I knew the result because I was in the hospital, I thought we cannot lose this way. I never felt that feeling before in football.
“It was the first Champions League final for most of us. We were very disappointed. We managed to win it the year after so it was kind of revenge.
“I'm very motivated, motivated through the roof, after what happened last time and Sunday, everyone is motivated for this. We fight for this and everyone is excited.”
Manager Jurgen Klopp revealed that midfielder Thiago Alcantara could be fit for the game in France, despite coming off with an Achilles tendon injury in the 3-1 win over Wolves on Sunday.
“I only met him inside, there's a good chance. It's surprisingly good,” Klopp said. “The good news overnight was that it was not that bad. He could be able to train tomorrow.”
