Salah on new contract: 'We're far away from that'

Mohamed Salah says we are "far away" from any announcement on his Liverpool future.

Salah is out of contract next summer along with Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold, with speculation surrounding the trio increasing ahead of the January transfer window opening on Wednesday.

Salah got a goal and two assists in Sunday's 5-0 win at West Ham United that took Liverpool eight points clear at the top of the table. 

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"The only thing on my mind is I want Liverpool to win the league and I want to be part of that," Salah told Sky Sports. "That's the only thing I focus on since the beginning of the season.

"We're far away from that [any news on contract]. I don't want to put something in the media and everyone start talking. I'm focused on the team and winning the Premier League."

Slot won't give anything away on new contracts

Liverpool manager Arne Slot was asked for an update on Salah, Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold in his post-match press conference.

"I think I have a lot of control over what they do if they're on a training pitch But their private lives I don't have control," Slot said.

When asked if things feel different so close to January, when out-of-contract players can sign pre-contract agreements with foreign clubs, he added to Sky Sports: "Not on the inside, but on the outside, it definitely does because people talk more about it, not only about these three but also about other players. So it will also be about the ones we bring in or ones who could also leave."

Asked specifically about Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has been linked with Real Madrid, Slot added: "I don't think it's negative at all. He's playing really well, he scored a great goal and the way he celebrated probably tells you enough.

"I don't think I have to say too much about it. I'm really happy with Trent, as I am with Mo and Virgil. For me, there's no difference.

"Maybe there is more happening in the media [with Trent] than the other two, but I'm really happy with the three." 

Slot: You can't argue that Salah's best in world

Slot was then asked if Salah's form makes him the best player in the world at the moment. 

Salah has taken his Premier League goal tally for the season to 17, three clear of Erling Haaland in the Golden Boot race. He also has the most assists this season, with 13, three ahead of the injured Bukayo Saka. 

The Egyptian has been involved in 52 goals in all competitions in 2024 (29 goals, 23 assists), more than any other player in Europe’s big five leagues.

"If you look at his numbers, you can't argue that, but there are different players in different leagues that have a lot of quality," Slot said.

"But Mo is definitely up there at the moment. He could have scored more today, but I also liked his work rate for the team without the ball.

"He's in a very good place. Let's hope he can stay like this for a long time."

Pundits: Will Salah stay?

Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen is sure Salah will stay at Liverpool beyond this season.

"These things tend to happen in private. I'm still confident Mo Salah will sign. I don't see why he will go," Owen said.

"If he was that against signing he would never have come out in the first place and made a fuss about it. That sounded like a person that wants to get something done. I'm more confident with Salah and Van Dijk. I'm not sure on Alexander-Arnold. 

"Salah's value is going up week and week. Now, Liverpool can't be without him. You're looking at the best right-sided forward and the best centre-half in the world. They're top of the Premier League, top of the Champions League, in the semi-finals of the EFL Cup. They're in the best position possible."

Sky Sports' Jamie Redknapp added: "Slot is reaping the benefits of a strange situations where your three best players are coming out of their contracts.

"They're all playing at such a high level. They're all hungry, they all want to be successful. The first thing on their minds is to win the Premier League. Then they'll want to get their contract situations sorted, be it at Liverpool or elsewhere.

"They have got themselves in the most incredible position. Salah's numbers right now are as good as when he first came to Liverpool and that's absolutely frightening. 

"I understand Liverpool's position. He's 33 in June so how long do they give him? Right now, he looks like he could play for the next four years, but you just don't know. Some players reach the peak and then start to drop off - you think of two players who signed big contracts in Ozil and Aubameyang.

"But I don't see that with these three players. They're so hungry, so effective, so good at what they do and it's playing into Liverpool's hands. I think Salah will end up signing a contract."

Salah's incredible stats 

Salah has now scored 20+ goals in all competitions in all eight of his seasons with Liverpool. Among all Premier League players in history, only Alan Shearer (10) and Harry Kane (nine) have had more 20+ goal campaigns.

Salah has been involved in 30 goals in just 18 Premier League games this season (17 goals, 13 assists), the fewest appearances any player has needed to reach 30 goal involvements in a single campaign in the competition.

Salah has both scored and assisted in eight different Premier League games for Liverpool this season, already the most any player has done so in a single campaign in the competition.

Salah has now been involved in 53 goals in all competitions in 2024 (29 goals, 24 assists), more than any other player in Europe’s big five leagues.

Salah now has 23 assists for Liverpool in all competitions in 2024. That's the most by a Liverpool player in a single calendar year in the Premier League era, overtaking Alexander-Arnold's 22 in 2019.