Mohamed Salah knew exactly what he was doing with Man United interview - Liverpool's next move is clear

Much has been made about the future of Mohamed Salah in recent weeks, but just what will happen with the Liverpool forward?

Arne Slot will likely be hoping the Egyptian forward can stay put on Merseyside, having witnessed the Egyptian in top form during the Reds' first three matches of the new campaign.

Salah himself has largely remained tight-lipped on the matter, though sent social media into frenzy on Sunday afternoon after claiming he expected the 3-0 win over Manchester United to be his last visit to Old Trafford as a Liverpool player.

The ECHO has since learned Salah is desperate to remain at the club and is hopeful of extending his contract past 2025, its current expiration date.

Discussing what could come next, our weekly ECHO columnists have had their say below.

READ MORE: What the ECHO has learned about Mohamed Salah future plans as Liverpool contract approach explained

READ MORE: Liverpool Federico Chiesa plan explained as Arne Slot gets injury boost

Rhys Buchanan (Aigburth, @Rhys_Buchanan) - Salah still has plenty more to give

Mohamed Salah couldn’t have timed his statement more perfectly when he declared post-game last Sunday that this was ‘as we know’ his last year at the club. With his trademark Egyptian smile, the Liverpool legend knew exactly what he was doing in the interview after yet another magnificent showing away at Old Trafford.

As he so often has done after the summer, Mo is playing like he has a point to prove this season. The new haircut and the classy new celebration just feel like minor parts of his evolution on the pitch. He is the ultimate professional, it’s a complete no-brainer to put a handsome contract in front of the player who has so much more to give.

Obviously, the club will largely have to disregard what’s gone before and look at the player we’d be seeing in the future beyond this season, but I have absolutely no doubt in my mind he’ll be a vital weapon for years to come, ultimately continuing to climb higher still up the all-time club goal scorers list.

From that iconic slaloming run and finish against Man City at Anfield, to the outside-of-the-box screamer against Chelsea, and (what felt like) the league-winning goal against Manchester United at home in 2020, it’s been an absolute honour and a privilege watching Salah deliver from week-to-week: he reminds you why you love football. Long may that continue.

Andrew Cullen (Widnes, @brothersred5) - New deal seems more obvious by the week

Mohamed Salah has a lean and hungry look this season. The marksman has not only scored goals but has created them too. The question that arises is: just how long Salah can maintain these electric performances? Last season, many deemed that if a significant transfer fee arrived for Salah, careful thought should be given to it.

Salah’s powers did seem to fade last season: at times, he looked incapable of both scoring and beating a man. Perhaps those dips in form can be better explained by the sheer number of games he was being asked to play, rather than his overall game yellowing. On the eye test at least, his blistering start to the season seems to fortify the view that with rest, Salah can still produce world-class performances.

Salah is cast in the same mold as Cristiano Ronaldo: he has an insatiable hunger to be the best. It seems unlikely that this fire will burn out in the next couple of seasons. For one thing, Salah has a laser-like focus on breaking any records in his path.

Is it not therefore a straightforward decision to offer Salah a new deal? The rub may be that as the sun sets on his career Salah may want a contract that places him at the top of the Premier League salary table. If Salah can contribute to 20-30 goals per season, be it from goals or assists, even in the face of a request to be the best paid at the club, the case for a new, lucrative contract seems irresistible.

There are only a few in world football who have the same precision and potency in front of goal as Salah - why would Liverpool want to lose that?

James Noble (Worcestershire, @james_noble98) - Short-term deal could be the way to go

This first international break of the season tends to feel like a chance to take stock.

Mohamed Salah’s excellence during the highly encouraging early weeks under Arne Slot, particularly in Sunday’s superb 3-0 win at Manchester United, was always likely to mean additional stock-taking would be based around the Egyptian’s contract situation.

With the transfer window now closed, there is, needless to say, set to be additional off-field focus on Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold being inside the final year of their current deals.

Each player’s situation, of course, has its nuances. There is, understandably, a level of caution that tends to come with offering new contracts to players over the age of 30, as both Salah (32) and Van Dijk (33) are. The performances of both so far this term have further highlighted their ongoing and unique value, though.

In the case of the No.11, his ability to consistently develop his game over the years, condition himself brilliantly and offer outstanding levels of output all point to a new deal being the best approach for club and player. Delivering one is easier said than done, but shorter-term contracts have the potential to strike a good balance.