With the ink drying on Mo Salah’s freshly-printed Liverpool contract, Graham Potter is under no illusions about the size of the task facing his West Ham United backline as the Premier League’s Golden Boot winner-in-waiting looks to mark the occasion in style.

Liverpool host West Ham at Anfield on Sunday afternoon at 2pm.

And while The Reds find themselves in something of a lull following that Champions League exit, the EFL Cup defeat by Newcastle United and last week’s shocking reverse at Fulham, news that Mohamed Salah will be staying at Liverpool for the foreseeable future has put a smile back on Merseyside faces.

RTK understands that Salah has signed a two-year extension with the option of a third.

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But after finding the net in only one of his last seven Liverpool appearances, however – and that came against now-relegated Southampton – Graham Potter knows his West Ham side are likely to come up against a man desperate not only to secure himself a first solo Golden Boot since 2018, but also to prove that his season is not grinding to a halt.

Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

In 17 games against West Ham, Salah has nearly as many goals [13] as he has wins [14].

“You see his goals and assists, how much he contributes in the most difficult area of the pitch.

He’s contributing in a team who have won trophies,” Potter said during his pre-match press conference on Friday lunchtime.

“He’s a fantastic player, who’s always a threat in the game.

Congratulations to him and Liverpool [on that new contract].

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“It’s great for the Premier League, in terms of it’s another fantastic player who’s going to play over here and entertain.

“He’s an absolutely top player.

He’s a fantastic player.”

This, then, feels destined to be the toughest afternoon of Oliver Scarles’ young career thus far.

After easing the 19-year-old left-back into the rigours of first-team football, Potter is ready to throw off the armbands and push Scarles in at the deep end.

He’s done a fantastic job, so congratulations to him,” Potter adds, the former Feyenoord boss on the verge of a place in the Premier League history books.

“You have to adapt but I think if you’re competent and the club gives you support – which is what I think they’ve had there – then you’ve got a chance.

“They’ve been great.

They also got knocked out by Paris Saint-Germain, which is no disgrace at all because they’re an absolutely fantastic team.

“Liverpool have had a fantastic season, and big congratulations to Arne Slot.”


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