Liverpool Dominating Europe but Losing off the Field?

Everyone with Liverpool tickets is pinching themselves when they look at how well they’ve started this season. 

First in the Premier League, with a comfortable points advantage against Manchester City, and the top spot in the UEFA Champions League group stage table is every Liverpool fan’s dream. 

The win against Real Madrid in their Champions League fixture was icing on the cake. 

While Arne Slot and Liverpool continue to make headways, breaking one record after another, Salah’s situation is still a troublesome worry for most fans of Liverpool tickets. 

Liverpool’s superstar striker is still waiting on his new contract, as the FSG Group—the owners of Liverpool—has delayed the matter. 

Salah Situation 

Mohamed Salah has reignited concerns about his future. The Egyptian international, whose contract expires at the end of the current season, continues to wait for Liverpool’s management to approach him with a renewal offer. Frustration is mounting as Salah seeks clarity about his increasingly uncertain future.

Mohamed Salah says he is disappointed that Liverpool has yet to offer him a new contract and that he is “probably more out than in.” His current deal expires at the end of this season.

That will come as alarming news to Liverpool supporters, who sang his name throughout the second half of the 3-2 win at Southampton on Sunday. The Egyptian scored twice to seal a comeback and extend the Reds’ lead at the top of the Premier League table.

Salah is having a stellar campaign, with ten goals and six assists in his first 12 league appearances of the season. However, the prospects of his extending his eight-season stay at Liverpool remain unclear.

“Well, we are almost in December, and I haven’t received any offers yet to stay in the club,” the 32-year-old told the media after the match at St Mary’s. “I’m probably more out than in.

“You know I have been in the club for many years. There is no club like this. But in the end, it is not in my hands. As I said before, it is December, and I haven’t received anything yet about my future.”

Asked if he was disappointed there had been no offer from Liverpool, Salah said: “Of course, yeah. I love the fans. The fans love me. Ultimately, it is not in my or the fans’ hands. Let’s wait and see.

“I’m not going to retire soon, so I’m just playing, focusing on the season, and I’m trying to win the Premier League and hopefully the Champions League. I’m disappointed, but we will see.”

In September, Salah told the media, “No one at the club has spoken to me about contracts, so I’m just like, ‘OK, I’m playing my last season’ and see what happens at the end of the season.”

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk are also out of contract this summer.

Speaking on November 1, Liverpool boss Arne Slot said: “All three are playing well at the moment, and there are ongoing discussions with the people Virgil says he has to talk to, and that’s not me, as you know. I talk to him about other things.”

Praise for Salah 

Liverpool full-back Andy Robertson defended team-mate Mohamed Salah and said he is “the flawless professional” following the win against Real Madrid. 

The Egyptian complained earlier that the Reds had not offered him a new contract. He said he was very disappointed and claimed he sees himself more out of the club than in.

“All I can say is that you saw him yesterday and today; he is the ultimate professional. It’s the same with the others (whose contracts are up): Mo, Virgil and Trent. They’re all focused on the next game, training and preparing for it properly,” Robertson told a news conference on Tuesday.

“They’re leaders and they’re not going to be distracted,” the Scot added of the three players whose contracts expire in June and who have yet to renew with the club.

Despite the negotiations off the field, Salah has displayed the professionalism to give his best on the field and continues to receive the applause of all those with Liverpool tickets. 

“We’ve shown we can win games, but there’s a long way to go. Several of us already know what it’s like to win those titles, but it takes a lot of consistency and a bit of luck. We’ve had that so far, but we’ve only played 12 games in the Premier League and four in the Champions League. There are a lot of twists and turns to come, but we’re in a good place at the moment, and we have to keep going,” added Robertson ahead of a crucial time for Liverpool. 

Robertson also praised team-mate Alexander-Arnold, one of the players whose contract is coming to an end and who has been linked with Madrid for next season.

“He’s one of my closest friends. He’s a fantastic footballer and a fantastic person, and his quality speaks for itself. He is one of the best, if not the best, right-back in the world, and he proves it year after year. He’s still young and can be even better; that’s his big goal.

Liverpool Chase after Man United Prospect 

Liverpool are understood to be stepping up their interest in Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez, who is open to a move away from his current club in January.

Sources have said that Kerkez is also one of the main names on the list at Manchester United as they look for new left wing-back options to fit into Ruben Amorim’s style of play.

Kerkez’s fine form has also caught the eye of the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, Aston Villa and Borussia Dortmund. At the same time, Liverpool also have Wolves’ Rayan Ait-Nouri on their list of options in that position.

Bournemouth will likely ask for at least £40m to let Kerkez go this January, while Liverpool’s interest in the talented young Hungary international dates back to the summer.

As well as Kerkez, there is real appreciation from the fans with Liverpool tickets after his impressive recent form at Molineux.

People are noticing his play style and think he could one day become something special at Liverpool. 

However, the Algeria international is likely to be more expensive than Kerkez, perhaps around £50m. At the same time, other sources have even suggested that closer to £60m may be required.

It will be interesting to see how this situation develops. Still, the general feeling is that Liverpool is increasingly aware that they need to bring in a younger left-back to replace Andrew Robertson.