After what the Reds’ win over Brighton at the FA Cup was branded a “great” performance by Mohamed Salah, captain Virgil van Dijk has shown the world that he wants him to stay at Liverpool.
Salah contributed a goal and an assist to the 3-0 scoreline as the Reds made it to the next round of the FA Cup. The Egyptian continued to prove his significance to the team despite the newspaper reports about his exit. The player’s present deal is set to run until 2027, but a potential transfer in the summer has been talked of because of the interests of the Saudi Pro League outfit, Al-Ittihad, which already made an attempt for him in 2023.
Upon the completion of the game, Van Dijk gave Salah as an example of leadership on the pitch and stated that the forward’s performance extends beyond only finding the net. He also pointed out that the number of assists that the Egyptian had equalled the record at the Premier League level by matching Steven Gerrard, 92 each for Liverpool, thus representing the stellar longevity of the player’s role within the squad.
Salah has been under the microscope, especially with regard to his performance, as he has only managed to get on the scoresheet once in the 12 games leading up to the match against the Seagulls. That being said, he has been in great shape since coming back from the African Cup of Nations, scoring twice and making four assists whilst featured in all his team’s games.
Liverpool sits in sixth position in the Premier League table, and Van Dijk said that it is the senior players who have kept the team together during the bad runs of games that really count. For him, Salah’s involvement is important if the club want to still compete on a high level in all competitions.
