Liverpool manager Arne Slot believes Mohamed Salah will need a contract extension to reach the levels of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Egyptian international scored his 40th and 41st of the season in their impressive 2-0 win against Manchester City over the weekend at the Etihad Stadium to extend the lead at the top of the pile.
Asked how Salah compares to Messi and Ronaldo in the talk about football’s greatest-ever players, Slot said: “It’s so difficult to compare players with each other. It’s not fair to anyone. I think Mo has his own career and Mo has been outstanding.
“It’s a good thing that Mo is in the discussion because it means he does well and it means that we are doing well.
“But for him to stay in that discussion, he should bring in the same performances as he’s done for seven or eight months now.
“I think, in general, someone that wins the Ballon d’Or needs to win something as well, so it’s a great challenge that’s in front of us but also in front of him.”
“Mo has had some outstanding seasons here at Liverpool and we hope he can continue this for a longer period of time but to do that, he first has to extend his contract, of course.”
Salah’s contract remains a huge talking point, with a new deal to extend his stay beyond this summer at Anfield yet to be agreed.
“You can say the better he does, the more expensive he might become,” Slot said.
“If he were to do really worse, we’d have second thoughts if we wanted to extend his contract, so for everyone, it’s the best he brings in the performances he does now. Maybe only for the one that has to pay him, it’s not the best.”
Mohamed Salah will hope to continue impressive goal scoring form when Liverpool Newcastle United at Anfield tonight.
