Jamie Carragher claimed Liverpool ‘is not built on giving people what they want’ as renewed calls were made for Mohamed Salah to be offered a new contract extension after scoring in Sunday’s win over Man City.
The Liverpool talisman faced criticism from Carragher for singling out reporters to do an interview with after last weekend’s victory at Southampton where he revealed there were no ongoing talks to extend his stay.
Salah at the time stated he is ‘more out than in’ on staying at the club past the expiration of his contract at the end of the season and went on to star as Liverpool beat title rivals City 2-0 to move 11 points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
The Egyptian scored his 11th league goal of the season after scoring from the penalty spot against Pep Guardiola‘s down-and-out stars and is staking a claim as the current best player in the top-flight.
A tense Merseyside affair ended with Salah scoring Liverpool’s second goal after Cody Gakpo originally put the Reds ahead early in the first-half and his future at Liverpool was hotly debated after the match.
Liverpool legend Carragher labelled Salah as ‘selfish’ over his latest contract revelation, but argued that the club don’t change their approach regardless of the players involved, telling Sky Sports: ‘I’ve got no problem with Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk, they are two of the greatest players to have played for Liverpool.
Jamie Carragher claimed Liverpool ‘is not built on giving people what they want’ as renewed calls were made for Mohamed Salah to be offered a new contract
Salah scored and assisted in Liverpool’s dominant 2-0 win over Man City on Sunday evening
‘We know Liverpool as a club are run by data, so you can’t actually say we’re delighted Michael Edwards is back and the data people are back because that fell away at the end of Klopp’s time here.
‘It’s a moneyball situation and we’re delighted that’s back but on the other hand say give someone what they want, you can’t do that. These two, Van Dijk and Salah, if Liverpool do have a rule such as only giving players over 30 a certain length contract, you have to move the data for players like that,’ he added.
‘I’m not saying he shouldn’t get a two-year deal, I’m not saying he shouldn’t be on big money – he’s on big money now and rightly so – but this idea and this saying of “give him what he wants”, this club is not built on giving people what they want, that’s why there is success at the club.
‘Being ahead of the game, buying Mo Salah for £40m when nobody else in the Premier League looked at him, because Liverpool were ahead of the game,’ said Carragher.
Liverpool face a dilemma heading into the festive run of fixtures knowing that should no contract extension be agreed, then Salah will be able to sign a pre-agreement with a European club in the January transfer window.
The situation is the same for captain Virgil Van Dijk and vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold who is wanted by Real Madrid.
Meanwhile, former Reds striker Daniel Sturridge believes Salah deserves to be given a generous renewal package as reward for his stunning form and stressed the 32-year-old’s importance to the club’s success.
‘This is a Jerry Maguire moment. You’ve got to show me the money. For real, like, I think these types it’s as simple as it gets, these types of players, who have scored. What now is that? 234, goals for the club,’ said Sturridge.
Carragher claimed Liverpool must ‘move the dial’ to hand Salah a new deal to stay at the club
Salah’s existing contract expires at the end of the season with European clubs able to agree a pre-contract with him in January
‘This season, top scorer. Assists, top of that. Where do you replace those numbers? It’s either as collectively as a team, or you’re not going to find individual player that over the course.
‘It’s very, very difficult. These are rare finds in football. So is he slowing down? Are the stats slowing down? Is his intensity? Is his mindset?
‘Maybe it’s the managers asking him to press less. Maybe it’s, you know, less defensive work and more attacking work. I’m saying a player of Mo Salah’s qualities deserves to be paid, whether it’s a two to three year contract.
‘If it’s two years and he’s asking for big dough, you’ve got to pay it,’ said Sturridge.
