Liverpool’s footballing future is teetering on a precipice of uncertainty, with two of their star players, Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk, having just over three months left on their contracts at Anfield. The situation is further complicated by the lack of apparent progress towards a resolution, as Trent Alexander-Arnold also finds himself in a similar predicament.
In recent times, the Reds were in contention for three trophies, but that number has dwindled down to one. Their Champions League dreams were crushed by Paris Saint-Germain, and their hopes of bagging the Carabao Cup were dashed following a defeat to Newcastle. Documenting this turmoil, Jamie Carragher, renowned pundit and former Liverpool player, voiced his concerns regarding Salah and Van Dijk's contract situations on the show, ‘It’s Called Soccer!’. He suggested that the double setback could bolster Liverpool’s perspective on the fairness of their proposed offers to the players. Carragher remarked on the pressing nature of the situation, questioning if Salah’s recent drop in form could be indicative of a larger pattern. He stated, “Van Dijk and Salah have almost come out and said they want to stay. But the real concern is from the club’s perspective. When Liverpool was at the top of the league, winning every game in the Champions League and talking about trebles, it seemed like Salah and Van Dijk were winning the PR battle. But now, you have to wonder if the people at the club are starting to question if this is a sign of things to come.” He further mused, “Is Salah’s off form a glimpse into the future? If they don’t win as much, does this strengthen their bargaining position?”
The two players are on significant wages, earning £350,000 and £220,000 respectively, and will be turning 33 and 34 this summer. Both, however, continue to perform at world-class levels, although Salah’s recent performances have taken a slight dip. Liverpool has historically taken a pragmatic approach to their players' contracts, exemplified by the return of Michael Edwards as CEO of Football at FSG, an indication of a data-driven strategy rather than one swayed by public opinion.
Pundit Carragher expressed a critical view on this approach as he stated, “Imagine Liverpool wins the league and the Champions League, and Salah gets the Ballon d’Or. It’s a case of ‘give him what he wants’. So, I think the club will look at that and believe their offer is right.” Liverpool has a track record of letting key players go at the right time, as illustrated by their past decisions involving players like Philippe Coutinho, Gini Wijnaldum, Sadio Mane, and Bobby Firmino.
As the clock ticks on Salah and Van Dijk’s contracts, fans are uncertain about the future. The risk of keeping them on high wages while potentially facing a decline in performance could be outweighed by the ramifications of letting them leave for free this summer, thus necessitating investment in lower-quality replacements. Meanwhile, Newcastle United, with their landmark victory against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final, have their fans reveling in euphoria. This win not only marked their first piece of silverware in 70 years but also highlighted the impact of players like Dan Burn, who opened the scoring during their 2-1 victory at Wembley.
Newcastle legend Alan Shearer humorously suggested in his BBC Sport column that Burn might as well retire following such a dreamlike achievement. Shearer remarked, “I told the 32-year-old he might as well retire after scoring in a cup final victory,” later noting that he had forgotten about Burn’s recent first England call-up. His enthusiasm was matched by fans who are looking forward to Burn potentially making a mark on the international stage as well.
Burn’s career took a turn for the better with the recent cup victory and the England recognition. Shearer is hopeful that Burn will find success with the national team as well, stating, “I would love to see big Dan Burn make his England debut this week and maybe he can find the Wembley net for his country as well as his club.”
On the Liverpool side, young player Harvey Elliott’s journey this season has been one of contrasting fortunes. Despite some standout moments, including a decisive winner at the Parc des Princes and a player-of-the-game display against Southampton, Elliott’s playing time has drastically diminished. Having only accrued 121 minutes in the Premier League, his development seems to have stalled under new coach Arne Slot.
At just 21 years old, Elliott faces pressure as he struggles to secure a starting position following Jurgen Klopp’s departure. Still, his passion for the team drives him as he expressed in an Amazon Prime interview, “It was really weird because for the first few months, I would say I was amazed by it; I didn’t think it was true. Even to this day, there are pinch-me moments where I’m like ‘I’m here, I’m living my dream. I’m living my family’s dream as well.”
Even with his limited role, Elliott remains committed to proving his worth at Liverpool. Looking back at his career so far, he proudly noted that he has made 140 appearances for the club, with 53 of those occurring in Klopp’s final season. While he continues to fight for his place in the starting lineup, the promise of more opportunities could arrive as the season nears its conclusion.
As Liverpool fans hope for resolution in the contract dilemmas facing Salah, Van Dijk, and Alexander-Arnold, they are left to ponder the implications of recent performances from their stars and the successful rise of rivals like Newcastle. The coming weeks will undoubtedly be crucial for the evolving landscape of football both on and off the pitch.
