How Mohamed Salah has proved everyone wrong Liverpool were right to hold their nerve and not sell him

How Mohamed Salah has proved everyone wrong Liverpool were right to hold their nerve and not sell him

 A debate raged on over the summer regarding Mohamed Salah‘s future but, after 10 goal contributions to start the season, Liverpool were right to hold their nerve.

It could be said that it is far too early in the season to make any sweeping conclusions about Liverpool’s summer business.

For example, while you would clearly hope for more, it is not yet possible to rule out that Dominik Szoboszlai’s incredible start in a red shirt might fade into indifferent form that would change perceptions of his signing.

Neither can we confidently declare that Wataru Endo won’t go on to silence his early doubters and emerge as Jurgen Klopp’s go-to man in holding midfield after an understated opening to his Anfield career.

 

Still, while the vagaries of form and fitness mean definitive statements on the Reds’ most recent incomings should be avoided, there is one element of their transfer business that can be declared a roaring success just 11 games into the new campaign.

 

That is, of course, the decision to consistently knock back aggressive advances from the Saudi Pro League for a certain Mohamed Salah.

Tw

o months ago, you did not have to look far to find condemnation of Liverpool’s firm stance, with many insisting they were crazy to turn down a £150 million offer from Al Ittihad in the final days of the window.

The most popular argument focused on the Reds’ forgettable 2022/23 campaign apparently being partly down to the start of a Salah decline, which was predicted to accelerate this season.

It seems many casual observers had missed the Egyptian’s 30 goals in 51 appearances in a team that had serious midfield failings and was regularly decimated by injury.

Fortunately for Liverpool supporters, this ‘poor form’ has continued into the new campaign, with Salah managing six goals and four assists across his 10 games in all competitions.

How Mohamed Salah has proved Liverpool were right to hold their nerve

A debate raged on over the summer regarding Mohamed Salah‘s future but, after 10 goal contributions to start the season, Liverpool were right to hold their nerve.

It could be said that it is far too early in the season to make any sweeping conclusions about Liverpool’s summer business.

For example, while you would clearly hope for more, it is not yet possible to rule out that Dominik Szoboszlai’s incredible start in a red shirt might fade into indifferent form that would change perceptions of his signing.

Neither can we confidently declare that Wataru Endo won’t go on to silence his early doubters and emerge as Jurgen Klopp’s go-to man in holding midfield after an understated opening to his Anfield career.

Still, while the vagaries of form and fitness mean definitive statements on the Reds’ most recent incomings should be avoided, there is one element of their transfer business that can be declared a roaring success just 11 games into the new campaign.

That is, of course, the decision to consistently knock back aggressive advances from the Saudi Pro League for a certain Mohamed Salah.

Two months ago, you did not have to look far to find condemnation of Liverpool’s firm stance, with many insisting they were crazy to turn down a £150 million offer from Al Ittihad in the final days of the window.

The most popular argument focused on the Reds’ forgettable 2022/23 campaign apparently being partly down to the start of a Salah decline, which was predicted to accelerate this season.

It seems many casual observers had missed the Egyptian’s 30 goals in 51 appearances in a team that had serious midfield failings and was regularly decimated by injury.

Fortunately for Liverpool supporters, this ‘poor form’ has continued into the new campaign, with Salah managing six goals and four assists across his 10 games in all competitions.

after scoring the winning second goal during the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James’ Park. Liverpool won 2-1. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

In fact, his nine Premier League goal contributions thus far can be matched only by Erling Haaland, who it would be entirely fair to say offers significantly less in build-up play.

So, if Salah’s forecasted demise has failed to materialise and justify a potential sale, what of the claims that Liverpool simply could not afford to turn down such a large sum for a 31-year-old regardless?

Well, they haven’t quite stood up to scrutiny, either.

For starters, Al Ittihad were understood to have offered just £100m of their headline figure up front, with the remaining £50m made up of add-ons including one contingent on Club World Cup success in December.

 

And, given that particular clause would have required wins over the champions of Oceania, Africa, South America and then, most probably, Man City, it would be generous to describe it as even close to achievable.