Liverpool and Mo Salah Tie a Red Thread

It is difficult not to compare Mohamed Salah's contract extension at Liverpool to a marriage bond. A marriage can occur between two individuals who feel they need each other. Similarly, Salah and Liverpool. After some back-and-forth negotiations, Liverpool officially decided to extend their partnership with Salah on Friday (11/4/2025) for the next two years.

Salah's fate was left hanging during the final six months of his contract, which expires in June 2025. There was no serious contract offer from Liverpool, at least until January 2025. This means Salah could officially open communication with other clubs.

It is understandable why the uncertainty surrounding Salah's future at Liverpool has been so prolonged. Fenway Sports Group (FSG), the owners of Liverpool, are highly committed to maintaining a sustainable financial model. In other words, they are very selective in deciding which players will have their contracts extended.

The approach of the sustainable financial model directly shifts Liverpool's paradigm in releasing or retaining players. The primary question that is always prioritized in every decision regarding contracts is no longer about how significant the player's contribution was in the past, but rather how much they will contribute to the club in the future.

Salah's future is hindered by that skeptical question. He will soon turn 33 years old this coming June. This means Salah has already passed what many consider to be the golden years of a football player. Liverpool's highly dynamic playing style demands physical fitness. This is the reason why players aged 30 and above are always at the forefront of the list of those whose contracts are not renewed.

However, Salah demonstrates that age is not a barrier. As he grows older, Salah's speed does not decrease but continues to improve. Data from Skillcorner reveals that Salah recorded a running speed of up to 31.1 kilometers per hour (km/h). This speed is significantly higher compared to the previous six seasons, which consistently ranged around 30 km/h.

From the aspect of productivity, Salah is also unstoppable. This season, he has been involved in 54 goals across all competitions. The total number of his assists and goals this season surpasses the previous six seasons.

"There are other players who can score goals, but Mo Salah can score even when he is not at his best for half an hour or 15 minutes. That is why he is so mentally strong. You have to be like that if you want to be at the highest level every three or four days for seven or eight years. Besides quality and physical ability, you also have to be very mentally strong," said Liverpool Manager Arne Slot, as quoted by BBC Sport.

Looking at these statistics, age is no longer a barrier for Liverpool to extend Salah's contract. Given how productive Salah has been this season, Liverpool's top brass seems to realize that the "Egyptian King" fits the criteria of a player who can still make an impact in the future.

Like a match made in heaven, Salah's long-awaited contract offer has finally arrived. If in 2022 Salah received a new three-year contract offer, this time Liverpool offered a two-year extension until June 2027. The salary agreement on Salah's latest contract remains the same, which is 350 thousand pounds (Rp 7.6 billion) per week. This salary amount is somewhat unusual because footballers aged 30 and over usually get a smaller contract duration and salary. This indicates that Liverpool sees Salah as having a lot to offer.

If Liverpool still need his sharpness, then what is Salah's biggest motivation to stay in the Liverpool uniform? Since joining Liverpool in 2017, Salah has won everything from the European Champions League trophy, the Premier League, the English League Cup, the FA Cup, to the Club World Cup.

Salah's trophy cabinet collection is quite complete with Liverpool. When his contract was in limbo, Salah received a tempting offer to play in the Saudi Pro League. However, he rejected the lure of material things in order to stay with the club that had given him all kinds of trophies.

In a press release, Salah revealed the biggest motivation to stay with Liverpool is to win more trophies. There is never a word of satisfaction in Salah. For Salah, as long as he can still play at the highest level, he will take that choice

“It’s been great. I’ve had my best years here. I’ve played for eight years, hopefully 10. (I’m) enjoying my life here, enjoying my football. I’ve had the best years of my career. I signed here because I believe we can win a lot of big trophies together,” he said.

In addition to Salah, his compatriot and Liverpool captain Virgil Van Dijk also received a two-year contract extension. Like Salah, the 33-year-old Van Dijk also had been looking forward to his future at Anfield.

In recent weeks, Liverpool have been plagued by inconsistent performances. In the most recent match, Liverpool lost 2-3 to Fulham which was their second defeat of the season in the league.

Salah and Van Dijk's contract extensions are seen as a big boost for Liverpool, who are currently struggling to maintain their position at the top of the standings. The Reds are 11 points ahead of second-placed Arsenal with seven games remaining in the Premier League.

Now with the common thread between Liverpool and Salah, there are no more rumors that could disrupt the team's preparations on the field.