Salah SLAMS Jamie Carragher over Liverpool contract

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 7 Jan 2025 10:52 GMT
• 5 min read

Mo Salah has hit back at Jamie Carragher’s criticism over his handling of his contract situation, describing the Liverpool legend as “obsessed”.

Carragher criticised Salah at the weekend for once again publicly calling out Liverpool over the lack of progress over a new contract.

The former defender said that Salah could learn from the conduct of teammate Virgil van Dijk who, like Salah (and Trent Alexander-Arnold), sees his contract expire in July but, unlike Salah, has not spoken about it publicly.

This is not the first time that Carragher has criticised Salah over the issue, and the Egyptian is not impressed.

What did Carragher say?

“You know what I would say. I would say Virgil van Dijk has come out of this whole sort of situation this season as captain of the club in a higher esteem for me,” Carragher said.

“In the way he's conducted himself, in the way of his performances on the pitch, in the way he's led the team.

“The way he was yesterday as well and he hasn't got involved in too much around this all. It's obviously a really important time for all three players.

“But I think rather than speak about Trent Alexander-Arnold or Mo Salah I'd probably like to pay tribute to Virgil van Dijk.

“I think he's come across as a real statesman. I think the way he's handled it. He's been asked questions and he's not been away, he's here to win league and he's doing his utmost for Liverpool. And fingers crossed he signs.

“But I think the other two could maybe look at Virgil van Dijk and take a leaf out of his book.”

Salah hit back at Carragher on Monday evening, tweeting: “I’m starting to think you’re obsessed with me.”

Carragher took the response in good spirits, replying to Salah with the following: “I’ve always been obsessed with you @MoSalah. Hopefully that obsession will continue next season.”

Salah is looking increasingly likely of leaving Liverpool after his comments last week.

The Egyptian is into the final six months of his deal at Anfield and officially allowed to negotiate a pre-contract with non-English clubs. Salah has on numerous occasions expressed his disappointment at Liverpool dragging their feet in extension talks and seems to be fed up with the matter.

Speaking to Sky Sports on Friday, the 32-year-old, not for the first time, insisted that this is his final season at the club, as things stand. "It's my last year at the club and I want to do something special for the city," he said when asked about his ambition to win the Premier League.

"It's the last six months. There is no progress [on contract talks]. We are far away from any progress, so we just have to wait and see."

READ MORE: Latest Liverpool transfer news

Salah's comments came just days after reports from France surfaced, claiming that PSG were offering the winger a significantly better contract than Liverpool.

Whereas the Premier League side had proposed a two-year deal with a €400,000 per week salary, PSG were prepared to pay him €500,000 per week for three years.

READ MORE: Latest Liverpool transfer rumours

Saudi interest in Salah

The Saudi Pro League is also likely to be a player this summer when it comes to Salah.

Salah was the subject of some huge offers from the Saudi Pro League during the summer transfer window of 2023.

a title="Al-Ittihad" href="https://www.footballtransfers.com/en/teams/sa/al-ittihad/transfer-news" target="_blank">Al-Ittihad had a massive offer of €175 million rejected by Liverpool in the closing days of the summer.

Saudi sides are expected to return to make a new offer for Salah on a free transfer in 2025.

Salah joined Liverpool from Roma for a bargain €38m in 2017 and has since gone on to become one of the club’s greatest players of all time.

He has scored 232 goals in 376 games for Liverpool, leading the club to the Premier League and Champions League titles. He has won three Premier League Golden Boots and was Premier League Player of the Year in 2017-18.

He has shown no signs of slowing down this season with 21 goals in 27 games in all competitions leading Liverpool to top of the Premier League and Champions League.

He is the European Golden Shoe leader and also has more assists than any player in Europe's big five leagues this season with 13 assists in the Premier League.