Salah should stay at Liverpool for a long time, says Klopp

Paul Macdonald

• Updated: 20 May 2021 11:26 BST
• 2 min read

Mohamed Salah should stay at Liverpool for the long term, according to manager Jurgen Klopp.

The future of Salah has been in the spotlight this season ever since he refused to rule out the prospect of joining Barcelona or Real Madrid.

Salah also suggested uncertainty over his contract meant his situation going forward with the Premier League champions was uncertain.

Those debates and Liverpool’s struggles this season have not had too much of an impact on the Egypt international’s impressive performances.

Salah has 17 goals in 24 Premier League matches in 2020/21 and Klopp is clear on what he thinks needs to happen next.

“It is very important – both to the team and Mo – that he stays here with us,” said Klopp.

“It is not often that I have to praise my own players, which of course I always like to do.

“But in Mo’s case the numbers just speak for themselves.

“Mo is not only a goalscorer. He is developed football-wise as well – and is a very, very important player for us.

“And hopefully he will be that for a very long time, of course.”

Having signed from Roma in 2017, Salah has two years left to run on his contract after this season.

Since his return to the Premier League – where he previously played with Chelsea – he has scored 118 goals in 187 matches across all competitions.

Salah has seven goals in his last eight matches for Liverpool ahead of Sunday’s away match against Sheffield United.

Liverpool have slipped to sixth in the table after suffering four consecutive Premier League defeats.