Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has been identified as a key figure in the club’s plans to maintain their competitive edge next season, despite the impending departure of right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Alexander-Arnold recently confirmed his exit at the end of the season, opting for a move to Real Madrid that has been speculated for months.
While the departure of the England international is a significant loss, many believe the retention of Salah is far more critical to Liverpool’s ambitions.
Manchester United legend Gary Pallister, speaking to William Hill, noted the importance of Salah to Liverpool’s continued success.
“Losing Trent Alexander-Arnold is a big blow, but fortunately for Liverpool, they’ve managed to sort new contracts for Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah – it would’ve been a bigger blow to lose Van Dijk or Salah,” Pallister remarked.
Salah, who signed a contract extension last month, has been instrumental in Liverpool’s recent successes, including their 2019-20 Premier League title win.
Liverpool’s ability to retain Salah and Van Dijk is seen as a major victory, with Pallister stressing the pair’s importance in the face of growing competition from the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal, and Chelsea.
“Van Dijk has been pivotal to their success over the years – it was so important for them to get him signed up, if they want to go on and dominate for the next two or three years,” Pallister added.
As the Reds look to strengthen their squad ahead of the new campaign, they are reportedly eyeing replacements for Alexander-Arnold, with Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez and Fulham’s Antonee Robinson among the potential candidates being considered.
