A simple glance was all it took as Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk couldn’t suppress a revealing smile when Mohamed Salah, who is usually tight-lipped with press, openly discussed his contract saga following the triumph over Southampton.
In an uncharacteristically outspoken post-match chat, Salah expressed his frustration about the deadlock in discussions over a new contract, given that his current Anfield terms have just seven months on the clock, echoing a semblance of similarity to Van Dijk’s contractual narrative at the Premier League leaders.
Salah, having dazzled once again and tipped the scales with two second-half goals to secure a dramatic 3-2 win on the south coast, wasn’t shy in airing his dissatisfaction. Alex McCarthy, Southampton’s unfortunate stand-in goalkeeper, might have contributed to his own downfall, but Salah’s killer instinct only cemented Arne Slot‘s Reds’ commanding lead at the peak of the league.
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Teetering on the edge during the match, Salah capitalised on a blunder from goalie Alex McCarthy, notching up his 10th goal this season and propelling Liverpool to a glaring eight-point advance in the title chase. Salah articulated: “Well, we are almost in December and I haven’t received any offers yet to stay in the club, [so] I’m probably more out than in.
“You know I have been in the club for many years. There is no club like this. But in the end it is not in my hands. As I said before, it is December and I haven’t received anything yet about my future,” reports the Mirror.
(Image: (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images))
“I love the fans. The fans love me. In the end it is not in my hands or the fans’ hands. Let’s wait and see. Of course [no offer is disappointing], yeah. I’m not going to retire soon so I’m just playing, focusing on the season and I’m trying to win the Premier League and hopefully the Champions League as well. I’m disappointed but we will see.
“I’m very professional. Everybody can see my work ethic. I’m just trying to enjoy my football and I will play at the top level as long as possible. I’m just doing my best because this is who I am and I try to give it all for myself and for the club. We will see what happens next.”
As Salah spoke, Van Dijk could be seen to appear over his shoulder in the mixed zone and gives something akin to a knowing smile as he saw Salah in full flow, Smiling, Salah added: “As you can see, I’m very professional and everyone sees my work. I just try to enjoy my football and I will play top level as long as possible. Me and this man [Van Dijk].”
(Image: Sky Sports)
Salah’s comments saw him criticised by Kop legend Jamie Carragher on Monday night. Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: “Of course there’s been discussions, yeah. Right now, there’s obviously a big difference in the valuation. Whatever Mo Salah and his agent value themselves at, whether that be financially or in terms of length of contract, and what Liverpool do.”
“So the reason Liverpool wouldn’t have offered a contract yet is because Mo Salah will turn it down. So they’re still in talks, I’m desperate for them to meet in the middle.
“But I must say, I am very disappointed with Mo Salah. That interview last night after the game when it comes out. Liverpool have got Real Madrid midweek and they’ve got Manchester City at the weekend. That’s the story for Liverpool right now.”
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“Mo Salah, we’re all aware, certainly the local reporters are in Liverpool, that in the seven years he’s been at the football club, he’s stopped in the mixed zone twice. Which is his right which is absolutely fine but he decided to stop for the third time away at Southampton on the back of winning the game and putting that out.
“The most important thing for Liverpool Football Club this season is not the future of Mo Salah, not the future of Virgil van Dijk and not the future of Trent Alexander-Arnold. The most important thing is Liverpool winning the Premier League, that is more important than any of those players.
“And if he continues to put comments out and his agent keeps putting cryptic tweets out, that’s selfish. That’s thinking about themselves and not the football club.”
As things stand, Salah, Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold are free to negotiate with overseas clubs from January 1.