"I can't be selfish now and talk about my situation. We are in the most important period for the team so I have to just talk about the team.”
Speaking to Sky Sports News ahead of Liverpool ’s trip to Man City, Mohamed Salah knew full well that now is not the time to be addressing his future. His expiring contract might be the subject of ever-growing speculation, but as the Reds chase an unprecedented quadruple, Jurgen Klopp ’s squad are not in the market for any unwanted distractions.
The German was exactly the same when facing the press for his own pre-match press conference on Friday. Where once his media briefings would have been littered with motivational sound-bites, his latest offering was rather more understated.
READ MORE: Liverpool defender rejected Manchester United and makes Jurgen Klopp retirement claim
READ MORE: Mohamed Salah speaks out on 'sensitive' Liverpool contract situation
It might be the biggest game of Liverpool’s season so far against Pep Guardiola’s men, but you wouldn’t have thought it from Klopp’s downplaying approach at the Reds’ AXA Training Centre. Having turned his side and their fanbase from doubters into believers and then high-flying achievers long ago, he has no need to create hyperbolic headlines any longer.
Clearly his squad feel the same as they prepare to lock horns with Man City in hope of wrestling top spot from the reigning champions with eight games left to play. As a result, while the footballing world might be longing for a public declaration from Salah regarding his future, he was in no mood to play ball when sitting down with Sky Sports.
Batting away any such attempts to coax what would be English football’s biggest headline out of him, the contract game of cat and mouse between the Egyptian and Liverpool will remain behind the scenes at Anfield. Instead, as the Reds prepare to face Man City with a second Premier League title in three years on the line, the forward issued a textbook non-committal answer before turning attentions onto Klopp’s side instead.
"Honestly, what I can I say? There are many things people don't know about," he replied. "I can't be selfish now and talk about my situation.
“We are in the most important period for the team so I have to just talk about the team, focus on what's coming for the team and that's the most important thing. That's all I can say. Hopefully we can be optimistic and see what's going to happen.
"I can't say yes (a new deal will be agreed) and I can't say no. I've said many times before that's what I want. But again I can't really go deep in the contract right now because it's a really sensitive situation. For the team to win I can't just go on the news and talk about my contract. I just focus on the team and that's it."
Considering Salah is dealing with mid-season Africa Cup of Nations final defeat and World Cup elimination heartache on top of his contract situation, it’s no wonder that his form has dipped in recent weeks. While he has six goals from 13 matches for Liverpool in 2022, only three have come from open play with the last of those coming two months ago against struggling Norwich City. His once untouchable starting place has even been temporarily questioned as a result.
A stark contrast to his Autumn form, which fell before the reported latest Reds contract offer his agent claims he has no intention of signing. Yet he is still comfortably the Premier League’s leading goalscorer with 20 goals, six clear of his nearest challengers, and is closing in on 30 for the season.
Unsurprisingly, he is not concerned by his form, publicly at least.
“No (I’m not being affected by the contract talks), not at all," he told Sky. "I talk to the manager from time to time, I'm very professional. I know my job very well. I'm almost here the first one and the last one to leave.
“I know what I am doing. I'm not bothered about that (the contract talks). I'm just focusing on the team, that's the most important thing for me, focused to win trophies. And I'm giving everything for the club."
A professional answer from a professional player. While his repetition of being focused on the team might resemble one infamous Rafa Benitez press conference from November 2007 when the Spaniard kept repeating, “As always I am focused on training and coaching my team,” after clashing with club’s owners over the club’s January transfer window intentions, Salah has said exactly what he needs to ahead of Sunday’s potential title-decider.
All was not well between Benitez, Tom Hicks and George Gillett 15 years ago and indeed, all might not be hunky-dory now between Salah and the club while his contract remains unresolved. After all, with his frustration clear for all to see both on and off the pitch, onlookers will no doubt speculate about his body language and delivery after watching his latest interview with Sky. Burnt by the experience of losing Emre Can and Gini Wijnaldum on Bosman transfers, some supporters will now no doubt now be fearing the worst.
But while the former Liverpool manager created headlines with his defiance, the Reds’ Egyptian King has no intention of doing the same. Whether he remains at Anfield beyond the summer of 2023 or not, it does not affect his appetite for winning a quadruple this season.
Salah wants to do his talking on the pitch and a trip to the Etihad offers the latest stage to do so. He might come into the game out of form but write him off at your peril. As a result, he might actually never have been more dangerous as he prepares to run at Guardiola’s side.
Mohamed Salah is focused on doing his job for Liverpool Football Club as the Reds go in search of a quadruple and knows full well he can’t be ‘selfish’ and let his future get in the way. If it does, everyone at Anfield loses. But if he returns to form and helps deliver such honours in May, doing his talking on the pitch could ultimately even deliver the breakthrough in contract negotiations he so clearly desires.
