Liverpool have been heavily criticised recently for the poor defensive displays at the back, but one thing the club has definitely done right was signing Mohamed Salah at the beginning of the season. The forward has been in magnificent form this year, and it seems like he just can’t stop scoring.
The Reds acquired his signature preseason from AS Roma for £36.9 million after missing out to Chelsea three years earlier. While at the Blues, his first stint in the Premier League was rather underwhelming and he struggled to get game time on the pitch. However, after moving to Italy, he racked up an impressive 29 goals from 65 appearances catching the eye of Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp. He is extremely versatile up front, and can easily shift from a central role to either flank where his lightning pace leaves opposition defenders for dead.
Now he is fast becoming one of the most lethal strikers in the competition and has already scored 12 goals from just 15 appearances, giving his side vital points during the process. After a shaky start to the year, Liverpool are looking more likely to secure a top-four finish and are currently 57/100 according to football betting to make the cut. If they can manage to maintain their position or better it, it will secure automatic qualification for next year Champions League if they don’t go on to win this season’s tournament.
Salah has been in fantastic form in Europe, too, with four goals so far in the competition from five games. Liverpool have all but secured their place in the round of 16, and if the Egyptian can keep up his form in front of goal, they will be a formidable force for their next opponent. The English team has been electric in the final quarter of the pitch this year, scoring the second most goals in the competition with 16, and bettered only by Paris Saint Germain who have notched up and incredible 24.
As when any player is putting in performances like Salah, interest from rival clubs is never too far away. There has been reported interest from Spanish giants Real Madrid, as they look to add to their squad after some poor results. Currently, the La Liga team is the favourite to cut the forward’s Liverpool career short, but there has also been interest from Barcelona and Salah’s old Premier League club Chelsea.
It will be a massive blow for the Reds if they lose their star man, with the side relying so heavily on his attacking ability as well as fellow teammate Sadio Mane. Liverpool know all too well the pain of losing a big player, with Barcelona poaching striker Luis Suarez for £76 million back in 2014. For the Merseysiders to stay competitive in all competitions, they must hold on to their key players rather than letting them go to the bigger European clubs. Hopefully, Klopp can convince him to stay and continue to build his current squad.
