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Paul Merson speaks on Sky Sports after the news about Mohamed Salah's Liverpool contract broke(Image: Sky Sports)

If Liverpool needed a lift for their final Premier League title push then they couldn't have asked for a better one.

The news that the Reds are increasingly confident they can reach an agreement with Mohamed Salah over a new contract was met with widespread delight among the club's supporters.

That it followed Virgil van Dijk's admission that progress is being made over negotiations over his own contract was just what was needed after a dip in the high standards Liverpool have set themselves.



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While the Reds bounced back from their Champions League exit to Paris Saint-Germain and Carabao Cup final defeat to Newcastle United with a vital Merseyside derby victory at home to Everton, they then suffered their third loss in four games when they lost 3-2 at Fulham.

READ MORE:Mohamed Salah close to new Liverpool contract after breakthrough in talksREAD MORE:Mohamed Salah sends wordless message within hours of major Liverpool contract update

That result means Arne Slot's side's lead at the top of the Premier League remains at 11 points going this weekend's visit of West Ham United to Anfield.

And captain Van Dijk and leading goalscorer Salah are sure to receive rapturous receptions when they take to the pitch on Sunday after they edged closer to signing new two-year deals.

While uncertainty remains over the future of vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold, the fact that two of Liverpool's most important players are committing their futures to the club is huge.

And Paul Merson admits he did not see it coming.

Those two staying will make Liverpool very strong again next season.

"If they would have lost those two, or two of the three, I thought they would have been right up against it next season."

The Reds need 11 points from their final seven games of the season to win the English top-flight title for a record-equalling 20th time.

And Merson believes they have come in for unfair criticism in recent weeks given how dominant they have been in the Premier League.

He said: "Liverpool have won the league quite easily.

I think they took a bit of undue stick when they lost to Paris Saint-Germain and then the lost the League Cup final.

Instead, he appears set to join Real Madrid as a free agent.

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Merson said: "I think he's the best passer of a footballer in the Premier League by a country mile.

He’s won everything with Liverpool, he cost them nothing, and he’s going to go for nothing."


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