Mohamed Salah is set to stay at Liverpool. Photo: AFP
Image: AFP
While Liverpool stumble to the Premier League title, the news of Mohamed Salah’s contract extension has surely put a spring in their step. It has also dispelled some of the gloom around the potential departure of stalwart right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The potential exit of Salah, Trent and skipper Virgil van Dijk must have been a cause of great anxiety among Reds fans. With Van Dijk also likely to extend his stay at Anfield, talk has inevitably turned to next season.
It seems strange to tie the destiny of next year’s EPL trophy to two 30-something veterans. But such has been the performance of the duo that it is hard to imagine the Reds defending their title without them.
Salah has already broken the record for most goal involvements in a 38-game season, and is far from done. The lethal forward is also well clear in the race for the Golden Boot.
Salah remains a frightening prospect for opposition defenders with his ability to run at them at pace, the ball almost glued to his feet. You can argue that the pace has dropped, yet he still possesses guile and trickery in spades, allied to remarkable game intelligence. He has surely earned his place among the great forwards of the game.
Defensive rock Van Dijk is still the commander-in-chief of the Liverpool rearguard, despite recent lapses, including Sunday’s calamitous own goal against West Ham. To truly understand his value, you need only look at the players around him.
Andy Robertson has looked a shadow of his former self at left-back. The powerful Ibrahima Konate still has some maturing to do in his decision-making, while the back-up centre backs are not at the same level.
Trent is also known more for his passing ability than his defensive prowess. Without Van Dijk, the Liverpool backline looks pretty ordinary, in my view. He adds calm and control, and often plays the quarterback role in Arne Slot’s system.
He was probably the one player that Liverpool fans knew they couldn’t cope without for an extended spell in their march to the title.
Virgil van Dijk is also set to stay at the Reds.
Image: AFP
Asked to pick which one of the three stalwarts they would be prepared to lose, Koppites would probably have gone for Alexander-Arnold. While his true value may only be realised in the talented right-back’s potential absence, I tend to agree.
A valid question is whether Salah will rack up the impressive numbers without that attacking threat down the Liverpool right channel, or the service from Trent. However, Slot has shown an ability to adapt his tactics in his victorious first season in the Premier league. And that should ease any fears of Reds fans.
Gunners fans will be dismissing any talk of a ‘repeat’ as premature. They will feel that they are the closest of the chasing pack to overhauling the Reds.
And they may have a point. Most observers will admit that Arsenal are ‘just a quality striker away from taking the title’.
They boast arguably the best defence in the league, as well as solid defensive midfield options. Declan Rice is a midfield powerhouse whose attacking potential is being unlocked. Martin Odegaard has the ability to unlock defences with his passing and vision, though he could contribute more goals.
As for Bukayo Saka, he is almost Salah-like in his ability to ghost past defenders, set up teammates and finish brilliantly. The Gunners also boast a great blend of youth and experience.
It’s the mentality that is the worry, though. How many times have they had the opportunity to push Liverpool further in this season’s title race, only to falter?
The addition of a lethal striker could fix that, as would a sustained spell without injury for star man Saka. Having effectively seen off the Gunners threat with a few games to in the title race, Liverpool fans will still feel that back-to-back titles are on the cards.