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This summer is going to be crucial for the future of Liverpool Football Club.
The Reds are just five wins away from lifting their second Premier League title in six years, and whilst this will be an incredible achievement for Arne Slot’s debut season, there remains deep-rooted issues beneath the surface.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah have all become three pillars of the club’s recent successes, but their contract situations mean all three could be set to walk out the door for nothing.
In recent days, Alexander-Arnold has reportedly opted against signing an extension in favour of making the switch to Real Madrid on a free transfer, resulting in increasing worries for the supporters over whether the club can come to agreements with the remaining duo.
We will be discussing why it is essential that Liverpool manage to convince Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk to stay beyond the summer.
LONGEVITY
Liverpool announcing the signings of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk within six months of each other in 2017/18, ultimately transformed the fortunes of the football club.
The pair arrived at Anfield during Jürgen Klopp’s second full season in charge, at a point where he was finally starting to form a side capable of competing for the major honours, following years without.
Van Dijk and Salah spearheaded the team into a first UEFA Champions League Final for fourteen years during their first season, and despite going onto lose 3-1 to Real Madrid, this proved to be the kick-starter towards a period of success for Liverpool.
Both players have experienced a decorated career on Merseyside, winning almost everything.
In this time they have went onto win the UEFA Champions League, Premier League, UEFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, FA Cup and two League Cups, whilst being on the verge of a second league title to add to the mix.
Mohamed Salah lifting the UEFA Champions League in 2019.
Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images.
A total of seven major honours, soon to be eight and they’ll be hungry for more.
BEST IN THE WORLD
Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are considered the very best in their respective positions, and Liverpool would have an impossible job of finding their ideal replacements.
This season, Salah is delivering extraordinary numbers that can only be described as superhuman.
The Egyptian has recorded a sensational fifty-five (32G, 22A) goal contributions, seeing him well on his way to obliterate his total of sixty (44G, 16A) from his debut season in England, back in 2017.
Salah has also set many individual records as well as overtaking Luis Suarez for most Premier League goal-contributions from a Liverpool player in a single Premier League season (44-43) with nine matches still to play.
As for Virgil van Dijk, he makes defending seem effortless.
There were many worries that Liverpool supporters would not see the very best version of the Dutchman ever again having suffered a horror ACL injury, just one year on from his career-best campaign.
in helping the Reds’ lift the Champions League.
That season, van Dijk won UEFA’s Mens’ Player of the Year, PFA Player of the Year and achieved a second placed finish behind Lionel Messi for the Ballon D’or, seperated by just seven votes.
A further three Liverpool players finished in top seven, highlighting the severe strength of that side.
Virgil van Dijk was at his peak that year, finishing runner-up in the Ballon D’or.
Getty Images.
But, in recent seasons, the defender is now performing at a level where he is evidently returning to his best self.
THE IRREPLACEABLES
Salah and van Dijk continue to remain at the peak of their powers as they near the end of an eighth and potential final season at Liverpool.
The numbers and performances speak for themselves, with both players having the credit in the bank as two of the best to ever wear the Liverpool shirt.
Salah has managed to climb his way to third on the club’s all time goalscoring charts with 243 goals, surpassing the likes of Kenny Dalglish, Robbie Fowler, Steven Gerrard and Billy Liddell.
The Egyptian remains hungrier than ever to remain at the top level and continues to get better season-upon-season.
His numbers are simply frightening.
Virgil van Dijk will almost certainly be considered in the top three central defenders to ever play for the club by the time he brings and end to his Liverpool career, but he doesn’t need to do so just yet.
The Dutchman is the club captain and the linchpin of the side that has greatly accompanied him over the years, he will undoubtedly want to continue that legacy.
Any potential replacements that Liverpool could turn to, will be nowhere near the levels that Salah and van Dijk have set for the past eight seasons.
A FEELING OF OPTIMISM
With three months remaining on their current contracts and no extensions signed, the never-ending question is how have Liverpool even let it get to this point?
Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are undoubtedly their two greatest current players and there is now a scenario where both end up leaving for free at the end of the season.
Although, there have been positive talks when quizzed on their futures, with the club remaining confident in both players remaining at Anfield.
Salah has been linked towards the Saudi Pro League, but it has never been looked at as a viable option with the Egyptian wanting to continue to his success in Europe, whilst van Dijk has only ever been focused on renewing his deal with Liverpool.
Fabrizio Romano has offered an update on van Dijk via his Youtube:
“Liverpool are pushing to renew the contract of Virgil van Dijk and are optimistic to make it happen.”
He also confirmed that the links to Real Madrid were NOT true.
As for Salah’s situation, The Athletic’s David Ornstein said:
“I just know Liverpool have been optimistic for quite some time that they will reach an agreement because, ultimately, they want Salah to stay and there is a belief that he is happy and would like the same.”
Liverpool must pull out all the stops to make sure that Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk remain at Anfield next season.
They have both played integral parts in the club’s recent success and are cementing their legend statuses each passing week.
If neither extend, then there will be huge questions pointed towards the club’s ambitions for the future.
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