There’s something telling about how casually Arne Slot mentioned Mohamed Salah’s name during a press conference at Anfield last Sunday.

Slot made a comment that encapsulated the overwhelming importance of Salah to Liverpool’s success:

“It is so difficult to win a game of football,” Slot remarked.

“People always feel like, ‘Ah, you’ve got Mo Salah, what are you talking about? He will always score a goal.’ No – it is difficult.”

And yet, Salah has proved to be a reliable goal scorer for Liverpool, often finding a way to make an impact when needed most.

In fact, he’s only gone without scoring or assisting in four of Liverpool’s 25 Premier League games this season, contributing to 38.3% of the team’s goals.

He’s had more goal involvements than nine teams in the league, underlining just how crucial he is to the team’s success.

The Salah Dependency

Over the past few weeks, Liverpool’s reliance on Salah has been undeniable.

While he hasn’t been pulling off flashy performances, he’s still been consistently effective.

From his clever assist to Alexis Mac Allister against Everton, to his penalty against Wolves, and even his absence during the FA Cup loss to Plymouth, Salah’s presence is clearly vital.

Graeme Souness even noted after the Plymouth match that Liverpool must realize how crucial it is to keep him around.

There’s a clear difference in how Salah is viewed by different figures within the game.

Arne Slot, for example, has nothing but praise for Salah’s experience and football IQ.

“He is so experienced and smart, and knows so well where the ball will fall,” Slot said.

The respect appears mutual, with Salah’s agent tweeting his approval of Slot last week.

Unfortunately, Salah’s relationship with some of Liverpool’s higher-ups doesn’t seem as warm.

The Contract Dilemma

Liverpool is in a bit of a tricky spot when it comes to Salah’s contract.

With Salah turning 33 in June, the club is hesitant to commit to an extension that could break from their data-driven approach.

Liverpool has always been cautious when it comes to investing in players as they get older, especially given the potential for physical decline.

However, Salah, with his torpedo-like build and continued excellent performance, defies these expectations.

Without him, the current Liverpool squad would likely struggle to maintain the same level of consistency.

The club has explored potential replacements, like Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford and Takefusa Kubo from Real Sociedad, but it’s unclear whether any of them could replicate Salah’s goal-scoring ability.

In contrast, a potential move for Newcastle’s Alexander Isak could cost as much as £120 million, along with hefty weekly wages.

Salah, on the other hand, is already on the books, offering the certainty Liverpool needs.

The club seems keen on keeping him but is grappling with the financial details—whether to offer a lower base salary with more performance-based incentives over the next two years.

The Striker Comparison

One of Salah’s key advantages in negotiations is the fact that none of the other forwards in Liverpool’s squad provide anywhere near the same goal-scoring threat.

Diogo Jota, who has struggled with injuries, is far less involved in scoring opportunities.

His expected goals (xG) tally is 16.8, while Salah’s is 52.7. Even though Cody Gakpo has shown promise this season, he’s been used more effectively by Slot at PSV than by Klopp.

Luis Diaz has scored just once this year, and Darwin Nunez, despite his work rate, hasn’t been able to deliver consistently.

Salah, with 53 goals from an xG of 52.7, is far more reliable in front of goal compared to Nunez, who has scored just 24 from an xG of 33.6.

No Clear Replacement

Looking back at Liverpool’s golden era in the 1970s and 80s, when Kevin Keegan wanted to leave, Kenny Dalglish was ready to step in as the perfect replacement.

While Salah is now even more central to Liverpool’s success than Keegan was then, there’s no obvious replacement waiting in the wings.

A two-year extension for Salah could give Liverpool the time to groom a future successor, though that process is more difficult today than it was under Bob Paisley.

Back then, players like Ray Kennedy and Terry McDermott were signed and allowed time to adjust to the Liverpool way before stepping into key roles.

Today, however, finding a replacement for a player of Salah’s caliber is a much bigger challenge.

A Saudi Move on the Horizon?

There have been rumors about a potential move to the Saudi Pro League, with Al Hilal reportedly offering £65 million for Salah’s services over two years.

However, a senior adviser to the Saudi league suggested that Salah may not even be considering the move, despite the offers.

This leaves Liverpool with the opportunity to negotiate an extension, which would be a huge boost as they continue their title push.

For now, Liverpool can take comfort in having Salah available for the upcoming matches, like the one against Aston Villa.

His presence in the squad is as vital as ever, and securing his future could be a game-changer for the club.