FSG must finally sell Liverpool’s £34m ‘superstar’

It might be an understatement to say that Liverpool’s Premier League title protection didn’t go to plan.

Arne Slott’s facet might have stabilized their facet with a hard-fought win over Sunderland on the Stadium of Mild on Wednesday evening, however they’re nonetheless three factors behind fourth-placed Manchester United, and that tells you all the things it’s good to know in regards to the present state of play at Anfield.

What are the explanations for Liverpool’s collapse? So many issues went unsuitable. The Reds have struggled with an absence of defensive depth this season, however Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate have been in strong type this season.

The identical can’t be stated for the slot frontline, with Kodi Gakpo discovering himself one thing of a scapegoat for Liverpool’s issues.

What occurred to Gakpo?

Gakpo recorded 18 objectives and seven assists in all competitions final season. At Liverpool, he performed a key function within the title-winning crew.

However this season he is been too flattering to deceive, too predictable, too one-dimensional. The sport in opposition to Sunderland was the most recent sport that divided opinion and resulted in some questionable selections.

The 26-year-old is a robust finisher and focuses on creating for his teammates, however he’s underrated. Nevertheless, he nonetheless failed to draw consideration, didn’t hit the purpose as typically, and the quantity of pictures on purpose elevated.

It is a by-product of his intuition to chop inside from the correct and rating, one thing that has been famous by his opponents this season.

The shortage of selection is irritating to observe, particularly for the reason that Dutchman must be growing into the perfect model of himself proper now.

FSG should remorse their determination to promote Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich and never select his alternative. With the summer time switch window now approaching, a left-sided ahead is regarded as one thing of a market precedence for sporting director Richard Hughes.

However different areas additionally must be brushed up, and different components of Liverpool’s frontline doubtlessly require extra pressing consideration.

FSG must be daring and promote Liverpool’s ‘famous person’

Mohamed Salah has been nothing in need of a ‘famous person’ since his transfer to Liverpool, as many have stated, together with Sky Sports activities pundit Gary Neville.

He is among the best gamers of his technology and a revered proper winger. Within the Premier League, he scored so many objectives and assists that he established himself as a two-time champion.

Throughout all competitions for the Merseyside facet, Salah made 427 appearances, scoring 251 objectives and offering 120 assists. Few thought he would set up himself as a talisman after becoming a member of from AS Roma in a deal value round £34 million. Liverpool would fail in the event that they signed Chelsea’s reject, wasn’t that the road?

Final 12 months, after all, Salah was decided to double down on his title and supercharged his debut season within the slot, working one in every of his nice particular person campaigns whereas securing a silver medal in a comparatively fast canter.

Did the 33-year-old attain the tip of his world-class potential final season? 2025 was an enormous 12 months for not solely Salah, however everybody concerned at Liverpool, and there’s no denying that his on-field performances this 12 months left quite a bit to be desired.

Simply final April, Salah prolonged his contract with Liverpool till 2027, now paying him a staggering £400,000 every week.

FSG haven’t lived as much as their potential in that regard, with the Egyptian king having simply 4 objectives and 6 assists in 18 top-flight video games this season, together with his lack of defensive work and uncharacteristic sluggishness within the remaining third extensively criticized.

The Saudi Professional League has confirmed to be a persistent suitor. They need nothing greater than to land the Premier League’s definitive fashionable sensation.

Latest experiences counsel that skilled league facet Al Ittihad have begun negotiations with Salah’s agent forward of a summer time bid, one thing FSG ought to think about, though it could be unpopular.

Salah exhibits little signal of regaining his former degree and Father Time isn’t on his facet. Watching him wrestle to make impression will likely be simply as irritating, if no more so, than watching Gakpo wrestle this season. Nevertheless, the veteran ahead is growing old and can’t be blamed for reaching this late stage of his profession after contributing a lot to Liverpool.

Liverpool can’t afford to make brief modifications on the correct (with Federico Chiesa’s future additionally unsure), however Salah is underperforming and if this continues the membership might want to make a transfer and make an improve.

Salah does not appear to be the kind of participant who needs to play second fiddle, which was evident in his incendiary flare-up in December.

He’s revered by Liverpool followers as an immortal and can stay as one of many best gamers of all time. However there’s one thing about realizing that issues have reached their finish, and Liverpool and Salah are definitely heading in direction of that vital juncture. Certainly, selections must be made.