Emile Heskey believes Liverpool should be careful with Mo Salah because the striker is 'irreplaceable'.
Salah's contract situation remains a hot topic of discussion with the Egyptian's current deal set to expire in the summer. Liverpool, of course, sit at the top of the Premier League and Champions League table, with the legendary striker's good performances a big part of their success.
But an ongoing contract impasse between the two sides continues to bubble in the background. Former England striker Heskey, who scored 39 goals for Liverpool between 2000 and 2004, urged Anfield's power brokers to resolve the issue as soon as possible.
He told Instant Casino: “It's hard to say who the biggest defeat in the summer will be for Liverpool. If you lose Mohamed Salah: how much will his replacement cost you? Can you replace it at all?
'Who publishes figures like Salah? Absolutely no one. I understand his age, but it doesn't really reflect in his performance. He doesn't stop running in his matches and his stats speak for themselves. He is irreplaceable.”
Salah, who turns 33 in June, is the Premier League's top scorer with 18, but also tops the list for assists with 13. Since joining in 2017, he has scored almost 200 goals for the Reds.
Captain Virgil van Dijk and right back Trent Alexander-Arnold are also both out of contract this summer. Heskey, 47, added: “Virgil van Dijk makes everyone around him grow in stature; he is a great leader. He has been the heart of that backline for years and without him they wouldn't have had the success they had, without any chance.
“I believe that Salah is the most important of the three.” And Heskey, who won the FA Cup, UEFA Cup and League Cup with Liverpool in 2001, is confident the negotiations will have no impact on the Anfield club's title bid.
They have won just once in their last four games and had to come from behind to draw against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday evening. They also managed just one point against Manchester United and suffered a 1-0 Carabao Cup semi-final first leg defeat to Spurs a week ago.
Arne Slot's only win in this recent run came in the 4-0 FA Cup tie against Accrington Stanley on Saturday, but they are still six points clear at the top of the league, having only won once in the entire campaign lost.
Heskey added: “I don't see Liverpool's contract issues affecting their title challenge; If it would have had an effect, I think it would have happened by now.
“I think it will make them even more determined to go on and win that title to prove the doubters wrong. They are doing well at the moment and will be difficult to catch.”
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