MURPHY: If Salah is set on going to Saudi, I don't see how Reds can keep him
I am taking Liverpool to finish ahead of Sunday's opponents Newcastle in the league this season — provided they keep Mo Salah amid Saudi interest.
Those travelling fans up in the rafters at St James’ Park will give Salah a big ovation — they don’t want to lose him — but ultimately it’ll be the player’s decision.
If Salah really is set on being the poster boy in an Arab country, I don’t see how it will make business sense for Liverpool to turn down £100million for a 31-year-old who is going to be unhappy.
Jurgen Klopp strikes me as a similar type to Pep Guardiola: they regard their club as bigger than any player and wouldn’t want to force someone into staying.
On the pitch, though, it would be a huge blow, particularly in the short term. Salah has a history of scoring lots of goals, and important ones as well.
They won’t be able to go out and replace that kind of impact overnight, unless they shocked everyone by landing Kylian Mbappe!
Let’s assume Salah stays. Liverpool then look in good shape. Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai already look a great fit two games into the season.
I’m also looking at how Newcastle’s Champions League campaign might affect them at home.
They play with such a ferocious energy, maintaining that twice a week every week won’t be easy and it’s something they aren’t used to.
The squad looks deeper with Bruno Tonali, Tino Livramento, Lewis Hall and Harvey Barnes but a first season presents different challenges. Liverpool fans will be desperate for Salah to stay. But it makes no sense unless the Egyptian King is fully committed.
NEW BLOOD, GARETH
I’d leave out Jordan Henderson, Harry Maguire and Kalvin Phillips from this week’s England squad, even though they have been established players under
Read on m.allfootballapp.com
