Paul Merson insists Liverpool would struggle to cope without Salah

Paul Merson believes Liverpool would struggle to cope without Mohamed Salah if the superstar sensationally leaves the club this summer.

Salah has been heavily linked with a move away from Anfield in recent seasons and Saudi Pro League sides are expected to mount a fresh attempt to snap him up.

As previously reported by Mail Sport, Al-Ittihad launched a staggering £200milion bid for Salah last summer, although the Reds were able to resist the approach.

But with new offers expected at the end of the campaign, and with Jurgen Klopp to shortly step down from his role, talk has again turned to a potential Salah exit.

'If he goes, you could take the pool out of Liverpool,' Merson told Sky Sports.

'You're talking about a right winger putting up numbers like that. You're talking about [Bukayo] Saka, who's a phenomenal footballer. He's nowhere near those figures.

'Him and [Gabriel] Martinelli had a breakout season last year. They didn't score as many as Salah put together. And Liverpool finished nowhere.'

Salah will have just 12 months left on his £300,000-a-week contract in the summer and Liverpool may have to choose between cashing in or offering a new mega deal.

Former Reds defender Kolo Toure believes this would be money well spent, however.

'He's a very effective player. He wants to score goals,' Toure said. 'He doesn't want for running. He will run at the right time.

'When he's being marked, he can make the pass. He can provide the ball to his team-mates. He's been doing some really good passes.

'Sometimes they don't finish it, which is harsh on him. I think he's a really effective player. Liverpool needed a player like that, who can score goals and provide.'