Salah clearly doesn’t want to leave Liverpool – Wright-Phillips

Mohamed Salah clearly does not want to leave Liverpool despite recent comments in public, according to Shaun Wright-Phillips.

The Egypt international is out of contract at the end of the season and confirmed last week that a new contract has yet to be offered.

Liverpool boss Jamie Carragher branded Salah 'selfish' for speaking out about his future, but Wright-Phillips does not believe he has done anything wrong.

“Personally, I think if you're doing an interview and you're asked a question and you feel like answering it, there's nothing wrong with that,” he told Stats Perform.

“For me, this is about Liverpool. Why wait so long to sign one of the greatest players we have seen in the Premier League? Why not make it clear that you want him to stay?”

“I think Salah is trying to push them into action, to let them know that he is ready. He wants clarity about his future because it is now open.”

Salah assisted Cody Gakpo's opener and converted a penalty in Sunday's 2-0 win over City, meaning he has now scored and assisted in 36 different Premier League games – the most by any player in the history of the competition, equaling Wayne Rooney's record.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Salah again said he expects this to be the last of his eight seasons at Anfield.

“I saw something on social media where he said something like, 'I played like this was my last game at Anfield against Manchester City,'” Wright-Phillips said.

“He tells them they have to do something about it. It's clear he doesn't want to leave. If he did, he would have already had the chance and stayed. So as far as I'm concerned, he's well within his rights to speak out.”

GET IN THERE!!!!! #LIVMCI pic.twitter.com/NEhKA1wIhb

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 1, 2024

Salah now has 224 goals in 369 appearances for Liverpool, a club record of 166 in the Premier League, while his 75 assists in the league are the ninth most of any player for a single club.

Wright-Phillips believes Salah will only get better with age, making it even more important that a solution is found between the player and the club.

“It's hard to say 'give him what he wants' [in terms of his contract demands] because I don't know Liverpool's rules and wage structures,” he said.

“But one thing I can say is that when you have a player like that, regardless of his age, the number of goals he scores and the end product he delivers – not just scoring goals, but also creating them in the last two years – has been phenomenal.

“He's getting better and better as an all-round player. I think he's someone they have to keep 100%. Whatever they have to do, as far as I'm concerned they have to keep him there.”

“He is one of the best players Liverpool have ever had, and they have had some incredible players. Salah is right next to them and doesn't seem to be slowing down.

“He is certainly improving. He has not lost any pace, and his hunger and desire to achieve personal and team goals at Liverpool only continues to grow. I would do my utmost to keep him.”

8 – Mohamed Salah has scored or assisted in each of his last eight Premier League starts against Manchester City (six goals, four assists in total). Ruthless.#LFC #MCFC pic.twitter.com/tI4UIVcjta

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 2, 2024

Salah is one of three Liverpool first-team stars who will become free agents in six months, along with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk.

Van Dijk put in a Man of the Match display in the win over City to move Liverpool nine points clear at the Premier League summit, and Wright-Phillips says it is just as important that Liverpool convince him to stay.

“I would say 1,000%. You don't often find defenders like him,” said Wright-Phillips, who won the Premier League title with Chelsea in 2005-06. “The elegance with which he plays, you rarely see him sprinting, and yet he seems to be back at his best.

“He's perfect for the younger players, for example [Jarell] Quansah, I'm coming. You need someone like him within the club.

“Of course, if Virgil wants to continue playing at a high level and Liverpool don't want to use him as much, then that's a different conversation. But from what I see, he's fit as a daisy, ready to go and focused.” He wants this title this year.

“You have to keep those kinds of players. That makes a club a bigger club: keeping players who have experienced highs and lows.”

“Van Dijk has been there for everything: the battles with City, the title races, the dips and the comebacks. Players like him bring invaluable experience and knowledge to the club. You cannot replace that.”