View: Liverpool risk becoming over-reliant on 67% star, it's not sustainable
Liverpool boss Arne Slot should be concerned that Mohamed Salah is directly involved in 67 per cent of his side's Premier League goals this season.
He bagged his 100th away goal for the Merseysiders in all competitions in the 3-2 victory on the South Coast, a mark only bettered by Ian Rush (161) and Roger Hunt (112) [Michael Reid, 24 November].
The Egyptian winger has been involved in 16 of the Reds' 24 league goals this campaign, with ten goals and six assists in 12 matches.
That overreliance on the 32-year-old is unsustainable over a whole season, and the thought of the Egypt international being struck down by injury will be a concern for Reds fans.
Liverpool must give Mo Salah a new deal
Before the Aston Villa victory, a banner on the Kop read ‘He fires a bow. Now give Mo his dough’ in reference to the fact that Salah has just over six months left on his contract.
There is no chance that the Anfield club can allow the Egyptian to leave for free, especially when he is showing no sign of slowing down, directly contributing to 67 per cent of their league goals.
He once again delivered a match-winning performance against Southampton, equalising with a volley from close range before keeping his cool from the spot to put the Reds eight points clear at the summit of the Premier League.
The former Chelsea player is now just eight goals away from Thierry Henry in the all-time league standings, having already overtaken the Arsenal legend in the assists category.
Salah has emerged as one of the all-time greats in English football, so to let him leave on a free transfer would be nothing short of negligent with the player firmly believing he still has a lot to offer.
Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group are understandably cautious about giving an aging player probably the biggest deal in the club’s history, but the question should be whether they can afford not to at this point.
In other Liverpool news, one Reds defender has been slammed for his first-half display against Southampton.
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