Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah suggested on 1 September that the 2024/2025 season may be his final one with the Merseyside football club. The 32-year-old announced his potential Liverpool exit after the club beat Manchester United 3-0 in a Premier League match at Old Trafford, according to Sky Sports. Salah revealed that he had not been approached to discuss his contract, which is set to expire in 2025.
Background
Salah has been a pivotal player for Liverpool since joining the club in 2017. His contributions have been instrumental in Liverpool’s successes, including winning the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League. Despite his significant impact, Salah’s future with the club remains uncertain as his current contract is set to expire in July 2025, and no discussions about a renewal have taken place.
“We’ll see what happens next year”
After the match, Salah told Sky Sports that he is trying to enjoy his remaining time with Liverpool. “I feel like I’m free to play football and then we’ll see what happens next year,” he said. Salah mentioned that he approached the match with the mindset that it could be his last season with Liverpool due to the lack of contract renewal discussions. He added, “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.”
Salah has been in exceptional form, scoring a total of 10 goals and assisting with six in the last nine league games. This was his seventh consecutive match in which he scored. According to OptaJoe, Salah has either scored or assisted 16 of Liverpool’s last 22 Premier League goals against Manchester United.
“It is a lot of ‘if'”: Liverpool head coach
Liverpool’s head coach, Dutch football manager Arne Slot, praised Salah’s performance, stating that he has “played really well” and expressed his desire to enjoy Salah’s talents for as long as possible. Slot acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding Salah’s expiring contract, saying there is “a lot of ‘if'” involved. He emphasised his happiness with having Salah in the club and mentioned he could “talk for hours” about the forward’s performance against Manchester United.
Analysts’ perspectives
Football analysts believe that Salah is likely to extend his time with Liverpool. Former Irish football player and coach Roy Keane stated that the club “obviously” has to offer Salah a contract as he is its main player, but also noted that Salah will ultimately “decide what he wants to do.” Daniel Sturridge, a former English footballer, expressed surprise at the possibility of Liverpool letting Salah go, given his accomplishments and apparent happiness at the club.
Future implications
The uncertainty surrounding Salah’s future at Liverpool has significant implications for the club. If Salah were to leave, Liverpool would need to find a replacement who can match his level of performance and influence on the pitch. Additionally, the club’s management will need to address the contract renewal process to avoid similar situations with other key players. As the 2024/2025 season approaches, fans and analysts alike will be closely watching for any developments regarding Salah’s future with Liverpool.
