Eden Hazard is often touted as the best player in the Premier League today, but no one can dispute that Mohamed Salah is the most influential. After relatively unsuccessful stints at Roma and Chelsea, Mohamed Salah has seemingly found his feet in an epic way at Liverpool. Since arriving in 2017, the Egyptian’s list of achievements speaks for itself;
Premier Golden boot winner: Check.
African Footballer of the Year: Check.
Premier League Player of the Season: Check.
PFA Player of the Season: Check.
Top 3 in the Best FIFA Men’s Player Award: Check.
To be honest, I could go on but for time’s sake and your sanity, we’ll leave it there.
Here’s why Liverpool cannot afford to let Mohamed Salah go.
A Wanted Man
It’s safe to say that Mohamed Salah had the season of his career last year, a campaign that saw him score 44 goals and provide 16 assists – simply world-class numbers. However, such world-class numbers were always going to draw unwanted interest from Europe’s elites.
After officially securing the services of Aaron Ramsey, reports suggest that Juventus have set their sights on Liverpool’s talisman. Due to their monopoly in Italy, the Zebre most definitely have the funds to sign the Egyptian, as they proved in the summer with the acquisition of the world’s best player.
Indispensable Influence
The 27-year-old may not be in the scintillating form of last season, but he’s proven that the 2017/18 campaign was no fluke, as his numbers still hold up with the best in Europe. So far this season, he’s scored 20 goals and provided 7 assists, in comparison, Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 21 while Lionel Messi has netted on 30 occasions. Not bad company to keep.
Although dubbed as the devastating trio, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane wouldn’t be having the effect they are if it weren’t for Mohamed Salah. Salah’s frightening pace, clinical finishing and intelligent movement put the fear of God into opposing defenders, thus creating ample amounts of space for the other two to thrive in. He’s metaphorically dragging them to world-class status.
Selling Club?
Jürgen Klopp is on the verge of something special at Liverpool. He’s finally taken the Reds to a point where they are not only challenging for titles but emerging as the favourites and Salah is at the forefront of that push. The Egyptian forward is the definition of an irreplaceable talent.
There are not many talents in European football that could replicate what Salah has done and does for Klopp’s system. Put quite simply, if the Reds sell the 26-year-old, they would have gone three steps forward and five steps backwards.
Where Salah would fit in at the Allianz Stadium
Some of you may be wondering, as I was, where on earth would Salah even start in an already star-studded Juventus team? Well, the answer’s easy – he doesn’t. Nah, just joking. You have to take into account the quality of Salah, meaning you HAVE to force him into the team no matter what.
This season, Massimiliano Allegri has preferred to deploy a 4-4-2 due to the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo, on other occasions he’s played a fluid 4-3-3. With Salah as an option, Allegri could a play front three of Ronaldo (LW), Mandzukic (ST) and Salah RW. For even more pace, he could put Ronaldo up front and put Douglas Costa on the left flank. Basically, Juventus would be unstoppable with the 26-year-old.
All in all, the decision will lay at the hands of Mohamed Salah. Juventus have the funds to match any price tag Liverpool would demand and Klopp has shown in the past that he’s powerless to stop a wantaway player.
Salah must, first of all, quantify his ambitions and then assess whether the Reds could meet those targets. Because in all fairness, Liverpool did reach last year’s Champions League final, and nobody would bet against them doing it this May. Over to you Egyptian King.
