Liverpool WEIGHING UP if new Mohamed Salah contract is a risk worth taking | OneFootball

On the face of it, giving Mohamed Salah a new deal is an absolute no-brainer. The 32-year-old has started the 2024/25 campaign ridiculously, scoring in each of the opening three games and chipping in with three assists.

Only Erling Haaland (seven) has more goal involvements than the Liverpool No11 in the Premier League this term. The Norwegian goal machine is the only player to better Salah’s average FotMob rating of 8.55.

The former Roma winger ranks joint-fifth for Expected Goals (1.8) and is sixth for Expected Assists (1.1) in the English top flight.

Read more: Ex-Reds boss believes Salah WILL leave

Once again, he ran riot at Old Trafford in Liverpool’s last outing before the international break, registering two assists and scoring the third goal in a 3-0 win.

His output is still exceptional and physically he’s never been better.

As revealed in a piece published by The Mirror, the three-time Golden Boot winner is averaging a career-high 10.1km. This is more than half a kilometre more than in the 2021/22 campaign when he claimed the Player of the Year Award. He’s also averaging more sprints than ever before (24.6). For context, this figure was around the 16 per 90 mark last term.

Salah adapts to new Arne Slot demands

Salah has adapted to his new role in the team under new boss Arne Slot. In his situation, other players might’ve zoned out. He’s won everything with the Reds. He’s a record-breaker. He’s one of the Premier League greats. If he didn’t fancy reinventing himself at 32, few would’ve begrudged him that. Yet here is is showing that while everything at Liverpool might be new, he’s still the same old Salah.

A reliable goal threat and a creative menace.

Football - FA Premier League - Ipswich Town FC v Liverpool FC IPSWICH, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 17, 2024: Liverpool s Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring the second goal during the FA Premier League match between Ipswich Town FC and Liverpool FC at Portman Road. Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda IPSWICH Portman Road SUFFOLK ENGLAND PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUK Copyright: xDavidxRawcliffex P2024-08-17-Ipswich_Liverpool-96

There’s still that hunger and desire. Previous successes haven’t diminished his desire. And Father Time doesn’t appear to be catching up with him just yet. He’s put the doubts from last season to bed. Upon returning from injury, he didn’t look like the Salah we’ve come to expect during his time at Anfield and the fear was that this was the beginning of the end. After all, it had been the case with many of Liverpool’s all-conquering side under Jurgen Klopp.

Liverpool stars drop-off

They all played a lot of football and at an extremely high level. A physical drop-off was inevitable. It happened with Fabinho, Gini Wijnaldum, Jordan Henderson, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane. Had it happened with Salah, it wouldn’t have come as a huge surprise.

For every rule though, there is an exception. Salah might be that.

He could be the exception to this. His physical decline might not occur for another few years. He keeps himself in impeccable condition. He genuinely looks better than ever right now. And this is seemingly what complicates things for the club.

Liverpool’s model is basically to let players grow old elsewhere. They might perform well for the club but they aren’t going to be compensated for it once they hit 30. Players use past performances as a way to justify their contract demands whereas the club use past performances as a way to predict a physical decline.

Is Salah contract a risk worth taking?

It might not be as straightforward as that, but they will see a player with 20,000 minutes across five seasons asking for big money on what could be their final contract in football and the data will suggest it is a risk that isn’t worth taking.

Usually, they’re right.

Look at what happened with the likes of Mane, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Firmino and Fabinho after they departed. A lot of people would’ve given them new deals. Had the club agreed, they’d be stuck with players on the decline earning the big bucks. It would’ve limited Liverpool financially and handicapped them in the transfer market.

But, unlike those players, there don’t appear to be any red flags with Salah. Well, not yet anyway. The output is there. The physical numbers are on the rise. He’s doing everything within his power to show he’s different. And this should be rewarded, shouldn’t it?

If they don’t, the message is clear, once you hit 30, no matter what you do, you’re done on Merseyside.

Liverpool silent on new Salah deal

After the game against Manchester United, he revealed that the club haven’t spoken to him about the possibility of extending.

He told Sky Sports: "I had a good summer and had a long time to myself to try to stay positive because as you know it's my last year at the club. I just want to enjoy it and I don't want to think about it. I feel like I'm free to play football and then we'll see what happens next year."

Read more: Liverpool unveil Federico Chiesa

Salah also added: "No-one at the club has spoken to me about contracts, so I'm just like, 'OK, I'm playing my last season' and see what happens at the end of the season. So far, we don't know with which club, but so far yeah my last game here with Liverpool. It's not up to me but nobody talk to me about a contract with the club. We'll see."

Michael Edwards is famed for being ruthless with contracts. He didn’t want to give Jordan Henderson one in 2021 before Klopp intervened. He is guided by the data with these decisions and won’t let sentiment play a part. It is safe to assume Richard Hughes will adopt a similar stance.

What Salah had done previously for the club won’t be relevant when they make this decision. They’ll weigh up what he’s currently doing and what he might do over the next two seasons. Right now, it is hard to argue against the 32-year-old getting a new deal and it’ll be a big call if the club decide not to extend his stay with the Reds.

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