Mohamed Salah proves why he is worthy of Liverpool contract demand in AC Milan win

Klopp reflects on Liverpool's win at Wolves

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

Liverpool progressed to the knockout stages of the Champions League by beating AC Milan 2-1 at the San Siro on Tuesday night. Jurgen Klopp deployed a secondary team, but for the first time in his Liverpool career, nobody will criticise him for doing so. Klopp had already said farewell to his trusty Liverpool cap, as the hard work had already been done. Regardless of the state of play, Klopp decided to start Mohamed Salah, a move that evidenced Liverpool’s reliance on the forward.

A 100 per-cent winning record in Group B was the only thing at stake against AC Milan, as the match was essentially a dead rubber. Klopp’s starting eleven contained youth players Neco Williams, Tyler Morton, and Nathaniel Phillips, as well as usual fringe players Takumi Minamino, Konstantinos Tsimikas, and, perhaps the most famous substitute in Liverpool history, Divock Origi.

Yet despite the plethora of changes, the capability within Klopp’s starting eleven was still enough to make them a match for Stefano Pioli’s side. The Serie A league leaders even needed a fortuitous goal to break the deadlock against the youthful Merseysiders.

Completely against the run of play, an in-swinging corner, clawed of the goal line by Alisson was patted into the path of Fikayo Tomori, who proceeded to slot in from close range. No eyebrows were raised when Milan blew their lead seven minutes later – the goalscorer was even less surprising.

They did not play like a team whose Champions League adventure relied upon a victory against this secondary Liverpool team. Mohamed Salah, of course it was, was in the right place at the right time to silence a vociferous San Siro crowd.

READ MORE: Six Tottenham stars test positive for Covid as Antonio Conte’s camp rocked by outbreak

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain glided past Franck Kessie, before unleashing a firm effort at Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan. The Frenchman, similarly to Alisson, pushed the ball into the path of Salah, whose first time effort on the half volley flew into the roof of the net.

The ability to side-foot a bouncing ball coming towards oneself at pace, and divert it on target is one only the best players in world football have – fortunately, Liverpool had what was apparently the seventh best player on the planet, if Ballon D’or votes are to be taken seriously.

Victory was Milan’s only glimmer of progressing into the knockout stages, yet they were tentative, slow in possession, static, as if they were petrified of giving the ball away against this secondary Liverpool side.

Yet Salah could have been on the pitch on his own, and Pioli’s side would have likely been the exact same. The Egyptian’s mere presence was a fear factor, even if many of his on-pitch colleagues had more U23 appearances than senior.

DON’T MISS
Arsenal, Tottenham and Man City offered new hope after Dusan Vlahovic transfer development
Six Tottenham stars test positive for Covid as Antonio Conte’s camp rocked by outbreak
PSG target fire sale and open transfer auction of seven players to Premier League clubs

Yet, this irresistible, unflappable, and terrifyingly efficient Egyptian will walk out of Anfield for nothing in 2023 if his contract situation is not sorted. Milan are currently on course to win Serie A, Liverpool’s team full of substitutes still dominated the possession.

Liverpool took the lead in the second half after a brain freeze from Tomori, led to the Englishman mis-controlling a pass and opening a route to goal for Sadio Mane. The Senegalese star’s effort was stopped by Maignan, and into Origi’s vicinity, and the striker nodded the ball home from 12 yards.

Salah has already conveyed his desire to stay at Anfield, even suggesting he would consider remaining on Merseyside until the end of his career. “I said it several times, if the decision is up to me, I want to stay in Liverpool,” Salah said in an interview Egyptian broadcaster MBC Masr TV.

With alarm bells appearing to ring at Anfield, Klopp was quick to de-escalate the inevitable questions posed after Salah’s comments; suggesting the interview may have been interpreted incorrectly. “But I’m not sure if he gave the interview in English or if it got translated from Arabic into English, that is a massive issue,” Klopp said before their trip to the San Siro.

Follow our new Daily Express Sport Instagram page here

Affording players significant, bumper contracts will always be risky business; yet the potential dangers of not committing Salah to Liverpool, at a time when he is so ingratiated at Anfield is a recipe which could only bring trouble.

Six other players may have finished above Salah in the Ballon d’Or, but there are certainly not six other players better than him on current form. Even amidst a reserve team, his very presence is enough to panic a team as highly prestige and impressive as Milan.

Salah’s desired wages, purported to be £500,000 per week according to the Daily Mirror, would be a significant financial burden, which could lead to other players and potential new signings demanding similar financial packets.

Yet, Salah’s mere presence is enough to terrify anybody, and that fear factor alone makes him a priceless asset.

Source: Read Full Article