Mohamed Salah has been rightly hailed as one of the greatest players in the history of English club football, but his departure raises sensitive issues for Arne Slott to deal with.
Mohamed Salah has shown his worth to Liverpool time and time again (Image: DARREN STAPLES, AFP via Getty Images)
Over the course of hours, and even minutes, the praises for Mohamed Salah were consolidated into a gigantic mass, with one tribute almost indistinguishable from the others. At the end of the day, there is absolutely no qualification regarding Salah’s greatness.
I have no hesitation in paying tribute to him as a true giant of world football, one of English football’s greatest imports, a giant of Anfield and an extraordinary talent. In short, he is a unique player and a generational genius.
Where do you want to stop? A clinical, innovative, and multifaceted finisher. An unparalleled provider of opportunities for others.
A very strong person both mentally and physically. A man whose style is as imposing as his statistics.
The only challenge to compliment Salah’s nine seasons at Liverpool is finding enough top-quality players. Even his farewell announcement on social media was a masterpiece of its kind.
read more: Trent Alexander-Arnold sends a three-word message to Mo Salah and the Liverpool star follows suitread more: “I played with Mo Salah. He showed me who the dream club is.”
There is no debate about his place in the Liverpool Footballers’ Hall of Fame, the Footballer’s Hall of Fame. But there are questions to ask.
What about timing? What’s next for Salah? What’s next for Liverpool? why?
“This is the first part of my farewell,” he said in a statement. And it is certain that he will be given a long farewell for all he has done for the club.
Only time will tell whether this long farewell will help or hinder Liverpool’s season finale, which could still bring glory or one which could still bring disappointment. Maybe it’s neither.
Mo Salah helped Liverpool win the Premier League last season (Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images/Getty Images For The Premier League)
Arne Slott’s team could have 15 games remaining. Is this a side issue that slots can get away with?
Ahead of memorable matches such as the FA Cup quarter-finals against Manchester City and the Champions League quarter-finals against Paris Saint-Germain, can Slott expect Salah to be as focused as he has been throughout his illustrious Liverpool career? My guess is definitely slots.
Although their circumstances are very different after nearly 50 years apart, it would be hard to ignore that Salah would leave in the same way as Kevin Keegan. Keegan, who had long announced his departure from Anfield, was signed after playing a starring role in the 1977 European Cup final victory in Rome.
That could be Salah’s scenario, but only in Budapest. However, slots require a phone call. And among the many questions, the broadest ones are the most interesting. why?
Will it suit Liverpool? Will they be better without him? In the last game, especially in the second half against Galatasaray, Salah looked like he was returning to his best form.
And Liverpool will be a better team with him, as he will be close to his tantalizing best. They are still missing a player who could be a game changer. And the bottom line is that Salah will leave the club a year before his contract ends.
Mo Salah will go down as one of the greatest players in football history (Image: (MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images))
Will Liverpool be a better team next season if they have Salah? It almost certainly will.
Indeed, he will be 34 years old. But he looks as healthy as ever. His point about “losing his legs” is off the mark. Rio Ngmoja is still too immature to be seen as an immediate successor.
If he was going to leave on a free transfer, it would certainly have been better for Liverpool if it happened at the end of next season. Salah has done for Liverpool, perhaps as much as any other player in the club’s history, and deserves this very dignified and sublime farewell.
He deserves to leave on his own terms. But it remains to be seen whether that will help or hinder Liverpool at the important business end of this and next season.
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