The time to say goodbye might finally be here. Liverpool and Mohamed Salah could part ways at the end of this season. The Egyptian forward himself has hinted at it, saying, “This is my last year at Liverpool.” With negotiations over a new contract at a standstill, Salah has begun preparing for a potential departure from the English club.
Salah, who last signed a contract in 2022, has repeatedly dropped hints over the past few months that he might leave Anfield at the end of this season. Late in November, he remarked, “I’m more out than in. I love the club, and the fans love me. But, in the end, it’s not in my hands or the fans’ hands. Let’s see what happens.”
According to ESPN, discussions over a new contract with Liverpool have been ongoing for months. However, Salah revealed yesterday that both sides remain far apart from reaching an agreement. When asked by Sky Sports if this would be his final season at Anfield, Salah responded, “As of now? Yes. Over the past six months, there hasn’t been any progress [on a new contract]. We’re far from reaching a deal. So, we’ll just have to wait and see.”
This season, Salah has already delivered incredible performances, scoring 17 goals and assisting in 13 more in just 18 league matches. Comparatively, in the entirety of last season, he contributed to 28 goals in 32 matches. According to Opta, a football statistics company, no player in Premier League history has ever been involved in 30 goals in fewer matches than Salah this season.
Now in his eighth season at Liverpool, Salah has expressed his top priority for this Premier League campaign, saying, “My first wish is to win the Premier League with Liverpool. For the past seven or eight years, every interview I’ve given has been about wanting to win the Champions League. But this is the first time I’m saying I want to win the Premier League with Liverpool.”
When asked why he’s so focused on the Premier League this time, Salah mentioned the missed celebrations during Liverpool’s 2020 title win amidst the pandemic, saying, “I’m not sure, maybe because we couldn’t celebrate the way we wanted to last time. Also, this being my final year at the club, I want to do something special for this city. That’s all I’m thinking about.”
Liverpool’s 2020 league title was their first in 30 years and came during the COVID-19 pandemic when celebrations were muted. Now, under Arne Slot’s management, Liverpool is charging towards their second Premier League trophy, with Salah leading the way. After 18 matches, Liverpool sits at the top of the table with 45 points, six ahead of Arsenal, who have played one more game. Salah is determined to maintain his form and leave Anfield with a league title, saying, “We waited 30 years for that trophy, and when we finally won it, there was nothing to celebrate. Hopefully, this time, we’ll celebrate it the right way.”
Liverpool’s next Premier League match is tomorrow against Manchester United.
