Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah said he plans to enjoy the final year of his Liverpool contract before deciding his future amid continued speculation regarding an eventual move to Saudi Arabia.
Salah signed a new three-year deal with Liverpool in 2022 which reportedly made him the highest-paid player in the club's history, worth more than £18 million ($23.75m) a year.
It's a contract that reflects Salah's status at the Premier League club, whom he joined in 2017 and has since written himself into the history books, scoring 213 goals and playing an instrumental role in the Reds' success, including a first Premier League title in 2020 and a Uefa Champions League triumph the previous season.
Salah is one of three high-profile players out of contract next summer, with the futures of defender Virgil van Dijk and full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold also unresolved.
“I don’t think much to be fair. I think, with time, a bit more wisdom I would say," Salah said when asked by Sky Sports how he handles contract negotiations. "Before the season, I was just like, ‘I’ve got one year left so let’s just enjoy it and don’t think about the contract now’.
“I don’t think about anything and I really just enjoy it. I don’t want to think about next year. I don’t want to think about the future, just ‘OK, let’s enjoy the last year [of my contract] and we’ll see’. The most important thing is to take one day at a time and just be grateful to be here.”
Liverpool v Brentford player ratings
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LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Excellent distribution as ever. Got down well to save from Lewis-Potter. Great reflex save from Collins’ header. EPA -
Raided forward well. Good burst but could have done better when set up by Diaz. Another decent chance in the second half. EPA -
Generally comfortable but not vintage from the Dutch Goliath. Lovely long diagonal pass to Salah. Caught out of position before one Mbeumo shot. Getty Images -
Immense in attack and defence. Vital headed clearance to deny Ajer a clear chance. Good downward header forced a save from the keeper. Getty Images -
For all the criticism of his defensive work, made a few important interceptions. Some trademark eye-of-the-needle passes. Went close with a dipping free-kick, had a good run and shot that was deflected. Grew as a threat in the second half producing lots of dangerous balls into box. EPA -
Good diagonal pass to pick out Alexander-Arnold who teed up Jota. Did the nuts-and-bolts jobs well. PA -
Impressive performance. Moved the ball intelligently and kept the midfield ticking whilst making some good tackles. AP -
Superb display. Great pace and lovely finish for Liverpool’s first. Brilliant ball to set up a Robertson chance. Energetic in the high press. Such quick feet. Stinging shot drew a brilliant save from Flekken. Assist for Salah’s goal. EPA -
Impressive in his link-up play. Probing passes between the full-backs and centre-backs. Great perseverance in build-up to Salah’s goal. Getty Images -
A constant threat. His tenacity contributed in the build-up to Diaz’s opening goal. Involved in an intricate passage of passing that almost led to a goal of the season contender. Beautiful dinked finish for Liverpool’s second. AFP -
Electric break and superb reverse pass to set Diaz free for his opener. Fortunate to get away with an elbow on Collins. Excellent all-round contribution. AP -
SUBS: (On for Alexander-Arnold, 72’): Lively cameo. Getty Images -
(On for Diaz, 72’): Fantastic change of feet to make room for a stinging shot that was deflected on to the crossbar. Had another effort cleared off the line. Reuters -
(On for Jota, 72’) 5/10: One half-chance from a Salah cross. Caught offside for a clever Elliott cross. PA -
(On for Salah, 83’) 6/10: Lovely curling ball into box for Nunez. Getty Images -
(On for Gravenberch, 91’): N/A. EPA -
BRENTFORD RATINGS: Busy shift. No chance for Diaz’s opener. Good sharp clearance with his feet from Jota. Great work to save a close-range Robertson header, excellent stop from Konate and a fantastic save low to his left from Diaz late on. Reuters -
Showed good awareness to nick the ball off Salah in the area. Carried the ball forward well. Very decent feet for a big fella – he’s 6ft 6ins and playing at full-back, you know! PA -
Some timely clearances, including on late on from Gakpo. EPA -
Took no chances when heading an in-swinging Alexander-Arnold corner behind to safety. Got his body in the way of a shot from the same player to deflect it behind for a corner. Powerful header forced a good save from Alisson. Good block from Salah; fantastic block from Jota. AP -
Wild shot from distance. Some decent defensive work when his side had their backs to the wall. AP -
Sent a wild swing way off target with a difficult volleyed chance. Clumsy tackle on Robertson earned him a yellow. Good run and pass to create chance for Mbeumo. Great curling cross to create chance for Collins header. PA -
Lovely long pass to set Wissa free on the left wing. Asleep when Liverpool broke for their opener. Great looping pass to Mbeumo. AFP -
Bundled Diaz over to concede free-kick in a dangerous position. Should have done better when he headed an Mbeumo free-kick wide of the goal. Some important defensive interventions. EPA -
His lively running caused Liverpool some problems. Great work to win the ball in his own box from a Liverpool corner before bursting forwards. Great pass to set Mbeumo free. Reuters -
Did well to dispossess a charging Salah. Showed some lovely deft touches. Great strike forced a good save from Alisson. Getty Images -
Showed why Brentford are missing Ivan Toney. Gave the ball away far too often when his side needed him to retain possession. Excellent free-kick into a dangerous area. AFP -
SUBS: (On for Jensen, 66’) 5/10: Given a warm reception by the Anfield crowd. EPA -
(On for Lewis-Potter, 66’) 5/10: Picked Mac Allister’s pocket before playing good ball to Mbeumo. EPA -
(On for Janelt, 73’) 5/10: Almost gave the ball away in a very dangerous position when he was caught napping on the ball. Some clever play at the edge of the Liverpool area; Kevin Schade (on for Wissa, 73’) N/A. AFP
Salah's refusal to verbally commit his future to Liverpool will no doubt concern the club's fans while also leading to renewed rumours about a lucrative move to the Saudi Pro League.
Jeddah club Al Ittihad had a bid worth a reported £150m rejected for the Egyptian forward last summer, and there is sure to be interest in Salah from the Saudi Pro League next year, particularly if he is available on a free transfer.
Liverpool have entered a new era following the exit of manager Jurgen Klopp after seven successful years, but it's been so far so good under new coach Arne Slot with two wins from two to start the Premier League season.
Salah has started brightly with a goal in each game. His goal in the 2-0 win over Ipswich Town was his ninth in a season-opening game to set a new record.
Since moving to Anfield from Roma, Salah has established himself as one of the best players in English and European football. His 2017/18 season will go down as one of the finest debut campaigns in history as the Egyptian scored 44 goals in all competitions and won the first of his three Premier League Golden Boots.
