Alan Shearer has conceded that Mohamed Salah has surprised him after the former Newcastle United forward expected the Egyptian’s form to tail off amid contract speculation with his deal expiring at the end of the season.
On Sunday, Liverpool beat Wolves 2-1 although it was not a clean-cut win. The Reds appeared to be a bit leggy and devoid of ideas as the away side dominated them at Anfield in the second half.
Salah, in particular, was very isolated and while he scored twice, his second was disallowed for a marginal offside. It was a fantastic goal, assisted splendidly by Trent Alexander-Arnold, and was a symbol of what Liverpool are losing if they fail to renew their respective contracts.
Virgil van Dijk is also at risk of leaving for free in the summer but losing Salah would be particularly damning. Sunday marked the arrival of his 28th goal of the season in all competitions.
His contract standoff with FSG has seen a marked increase in his form and Alan Shearer, who predicted that stalled contract talks would produce a decrease in form, has now admitted he was wrong as Salah continues to thrive at the heart of the Liverpool attack.
Alan Shearer admits that Salah is proving him wrong
Speaking on the Rest is Football podcast with Gary Lineker and Micah Richards, Shearer had nothing but praise and an apology. Salah has been in such fine form that the former Newcastle forward can’t believe it.
“He’s some player,” said Shearer. “I thought, and I said earlier in the season, that there might be a tiny, not a lot, but a tiny sort of drop off because of the contract situation, the worry that you haven’t got the protection, I guess, or the guarantee of that behind you going forward. But at the minute, there hasn’t been at all.
“I thought it would have been only human nature to see a tiny, tiny drop off. But there isn’t. And I think that tells you about his mindset and how tough he is mentally.”
Micah Richards is like Liverpool fans – he’s desperate to see Salah stay
Friends and former teammates, Micah Richards and Salah go back to their time together at Fiorentina and Richards now says he would love to see the Egyptian stay in the Premier League, urging Liverpool to get the deal done.
“When I say give him what he wants, I didn’t mean blow the wage structure to a different level,” he said. “I just mean there’s a player who doesn’t always have to play at the top of his game and he can still produce magical moments.
“So, if you look at his cross for the goal from [Alexis] Mac Allister but then his goal to take it on the right foot so quickly [in the recent Merseyside derby] that’s the difference between a top level player, a world class player and Mo Salah in front of goal.
“He’s just so deadly. And I hope we can get the contract sorted because I want to see him in the Premier League because he’s just that good in the big moments.”
