Liverpool received the desired response from Mohamed Salah in their victory over Tottenham, but it’s disappointing that his performance came a couple of weeks late. I don’t believe Salah’s recent struggles were due to attitude issues, but rather physical limitations.
Sometimes, a confrontation can act as a catalyst for a player, and it’s no surprise that Salah’s strong display followed his touchline dispute with Jurgen Klopp last week. Throughout my career, I’ve witnessed similar situations where players react positively to criticism, and it has always been important for me personally as well.
I recall a similar experience during my early days at Liverpool when I was just 21. In a match against Manchester United at Old Trafford in 1998, I was given an opportunity due to an injury to Karl-Heinz Riedle. Despite initial nerves and poor touches, I used the criticism from captain Paul Ince as motivation and ended up being named man of the match in a 1-1 draw.
Of course, Salah is a superstar, not a young player breaking into the team. I don’t compare myself to him, but my point is that all players have a choice when faced with criticism. Salah chose to respond with a stellar performance.
He displayed sharpness from the start against Spurs, hitting the woodwork a couple of times and finding the back of the net. Although it couldn’t salvage Liverpool’s title bid, it was encouraging to see Salah giving his all and trying to prove his detractors wrong.
Looking ahead to next season, it’s a positive sign for Liverpool fans that Salah showed such determination. While there has been speculation about his future due to his contract situation, I hope he remains at the club. His goal-scoring reliability is undeniable, and finding a like-for-like replacement would be incredibly challenging.
Salah possesses the rare ability to score even when he’s not at his best, and his presence would be sorely missed. However, it’s possible he may seek a new challenge for the benefit of himself and his family.
In addition to Salah, securing Virgil van Dijk’s future should be a top priority for the new manager. Van Dijk, along with Trent Alexander-Arnold, is also nearing the end of his contract in the summer of 2025. While I believe Alexander-Arnold’s commitment to the club won’t be an issue due to his local roots and love for Liverpool, predicting Van Dijk’s next move is more uncertain.
Although the club will always be bigger than any individual, Van Dijk’s presence and abilities make him the one player Liverpool would miss more than any other.
