Striker Salah happy wherever career ends after inspiring Liverpool to win

Mohamed Salah dropped another hint that his future could lie away from Liverpool as the Egypt star said he would be happy “wherever I am going to end my career” after starring in Sunday’s 6-3 demolition of Tottenham.

Salah scored twice and provided two assists in the goal-spree in north London as Liverpool moved four points clear at the top of the Premier League.

The 32-year-old is the first Premier League player to bag at least 10 goals and 10 assists before Christmas, while his brace also took him into fourth place on Liverpool’s all-time list of scorers with 229 in all competitions.

Salah’s immense value to Arne Slot’s team is clear, but Liverpool have been unable to persuade the forward to sign a new contract as speculation mounts about his future.

With Salah’s current deal expiring at the end of this season, he will be free to sign a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club from January.

Having already made several comments earlier this season about this potentially being his last campaign with Liverpool, Salah once again made a cryptic reference to his future.

“It’s great to achieve that at such a big club, but the most important thing is that we won the game. Wherever I am going to end my career I am happy about it,” Salah told Sky Sports.

Salah added that there was “no update” on his contract situation, but Slot will surely be desperate to extend his talisman’s seven-year stay on Merseyside after he took his goal tally to 18 in all competitions this term.

With Salah to the fore, Liverpool have won 21 of their 25 games in all competitions since Slot replaced Jurgen Klopp as manager.

“I didn’t think about it before the game but I’m glad I have done it, something that makes me proud, I’ll keep working hard,” Salah said of reaching double figures in goals and assists this season.

Salah was less happy with Liverpool’s defending against Tottenham, adding: “We were quite good in front but I think we need to improve defensively as a team.

“Conceding three goals is quite hard. It’s quite good the result and hopefully we just keep going.”

Meanwhile, Virgil van Dijk says there is “no deadline” regarding his contract situation as the clock ticks down to the end of his Liverpool deal.

The Netherlands international’s current contract expires at the end of the season and from January 1 he will be able to negotiate with overseas clubs.

However, it is understood the 33-year-old’s preference is to stay at Anfield.

“There is no deadline at all. We will see what the future brings. Is there an update? No,” he told reporters.

Van Dijk is one of three key players whose deals are entering their final six months, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Salah the others.

Slot’s side have won 21 of their 25 games in all competitions this term, a remarkable run that leaves them in pole position to win the title for the first time since 2020, while also competing for the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup.

But despite their blistering form, Liverpool’s concession of two late goals to Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke was frustrating to Slot, who called on his team to stay focused until the end of every game.

“It was very good. Maybe it was our best performance away from home, although I really like what I saw from Man United as well,” Slot said in reference to the 3-0 win at Old Trafford in September.

Agence France-Presse