Mohamed Salah says that his priority is to win the Premier League title with Liverpool in what could be his final season at the club.
The Egyptian, speaking ahead of Sunday’s home match against Manchester United, said that in the past he has put the UEFA Champions League top of his wishlist, but that this season it is different.
"The first thing that was on the list was to win the Premier League with Liverpool," Salah told Sky Sports. "In my interviews over the last seven or eight years, I always say [I want to win the] Champions League. But this is the first time I'm saying I really want to win the Premier League with Liverpool.
"That was the thing in my head.”
Salah has already claimed one Premier League title with Liverpool - the club's first league crown since 1990 - but that came in the pandemic-affected 2019/20 season.
"We waited for that title for 30 years or so,” Salah said. “So, to win it and it was the pandemic at that time, we didn't really have time to celebrate it in the right way. It's not a nice thing to do, so hopefully we can do it this year.
"My motivation this year was to win a trophy and be a big part of winning that trophy, especially the Premier League.”
Salah says that a second Premier League title would effectively rubber-stamp the legacy of players such as himself, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, Alisson and Andrew Robertson, who were part of the 2019/20 team.
"I still believe the team needs a trophy,” Salah said. “There is still half of the team left like me, Trent, Virgil, Alisson, Robbo [Robertson].
"It's necessary for us to win another trophy before we all go.
"We've won almost everything, but we've won the Premier League once. Hopefully we can win it twice, which would be great."
'No progress' in contract talks
Salah was also asked by Sky whether he really believes this is his final season at the club, with his current contract expiring in June.
"So far, yes,” he replied. “It's the last six months. There is no progress there. We are far away from any progress. So, we just need to wait and see."
Salah added that his contract situation is not affecting his unbelievable form; the Liverpool star is topping the Premier League rankings for goals, with 17, and assists, with 13.
"The thing in my head is that if this is the last six months, what do you want to see in the future?” he said.
"Do you want to look back and say I was concerned or stressed about the contract? Or do you just want to say I had an unbelievable season? That's what is in my head.
"If I ever feel distraction, I just remind myself I want to look back and say I had an unbelievable season. That's what I want to do."
Team success is the main goal
Salah is placing Liverpool winning silverware above any ambition to claim individual awards.
"Ninety per cent of winning an individual award depends on your performance with the team and winning a trophy with the team,” he said. “If you win with your team, you have a better chance to win a Ballon d'Or or something like that.
"The most important thing for me is to win the Premier League and to be a big part of that. I don't just want to have a small part. I want to win it and then for people to say, 'He made the difference and made the team win.’
"I am very proud to see the numbers but you just have to forget it and stay humble.
"I don't want to get to the end of the season and say I had unbelievable numbers but the team didn't win anything. I just want to win the trophy and have the big numbers."
Title rivals and evolution under Slot
Salah sees the threat to Liverpool’s hopes of repeated glory coming from three teams this season.
"Again, it's not easy to do,” he said of winning the title. “Arsenal are catching us. Chelsea are catching us. Man City will come back for sure. It's very tricky but we just have to stay focused, don't take it for granted and keep working hard. Hopefully we'll win it in the end."
As to how Liverpool head coach Arne Slot is getting his team to perform so well this season, Salah points towards a tactical flexibility from the Dutchman that his predecessor Jurgen Klopp did not have.
"The way we play is completely different,” Salah said of Slot’s Liverpool. "With Jurgen, we had one system all the time. We stuck to what we were doing with him, it didn't matter what. We did that for seven to eight years.
"The new manager changes something slightly depending on the game. We didn't do that before.”
