Reds' contract dance with Salah was always likely to be complex

Revamp after Jürgen Klopp's exit did not help and time is short for Liverpool to make their talisman feel wanted

- Andy Hunter

Mohamed Salah's admission that he is "more out than in" at Liverpool creates a tremor in an otherwise serene debut season for Arne Slot.

The Liverpool head coach can take comfort in the fact there is zero evidence to support Salah's claim on the pitch and, while he and sporting director Richard Hughes are new to the club, contract posturing by the Anfield superstar is not.

Salah rarely stops to give post-match interviews but what happened at Southampton on Sunday was not unusual in many respects. There was the removal of the shirt following a match-winning goal that invited a yellow card but also revealed a chiselled physique. Just in case anyone is still wondering what condition he is in at 32.

Another decisive job done, with Liverpool sitting eight points clear at the top of the Premier League after his 11th and 12th goals of the season, and Salah seized his next opportunity, telling waiting reporters he was disappointed not to have received a formal contract offer and a resolution is "not in my hands".

The Egypt international used that line several times when expressing frustration over the delay to his previous contract extension at Liverpool. That process took more than 12 months to complete and ended with Salah signing a three-year deal in July 2022 worth a basic £350,000 a week.

According to his agent, Ramy Abbas Issa, Salah's current contract helps him to earn at least £1m a week when image rights and playing targets are factored in.

The interview on Sunday appears part of a well-rehearsed and successful negotiating strategy.