FSG must finally sell Liverpool’s £34m “superstar”

It’s fair to say that Liverpool’s Premier League title defence has not gone to plan.

Arne Slot’s side might have steadied the ship with a hard-fought win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday evening, but they remain three points behind fourth-place Manchester United, and that tells you everything you need to know about the current state of play at Anfield.

Where does Liverpool’s collapse boil down to? So many things have gone wrong. While a lack of defensive depth has consumed the Reds this season, Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate are standing firm at the moment, in their finest form of the campaign.

The same cannot be said for Slot’s frontline, with Cody Gakpo finding himself as something of a scapegoat for Liverpool’s problems.

What’s gone wrong for Gakpo

Gakpo scored 18 goals and supplied seven assists in all competitions last season. For Liverpool, he played an important role in a title-winning team.

However, he’s flattered to deceive this season, too predictable, too one-dimensional. Sunderland was the latest match in which he split opinion, making a few questionable decisions.

The 26-year-old is a strong finisher with an underrated emphasis on creating for his teammates. And yet he has still failed to catch the eye, with a higher output of shots on goal without hitting the target as frequently.

That’s a by-product of his instinct to cut inside on his right and fire at goal, something that has been sussed out by opponents this season.

A lack of variation has been frustrating to watch, especially as the Dutchman should be hatching into his prime version right now.

FSG must regret their decision to sell Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich and choose against replacing him. Now, the summer transfer window is approaching with a left-sided forward looking to be something of a priority for sporting director Richard Hughes in the market.

However, other areas need brushing up, with another part of Liverpool’s frontline potentially in more urgent need of attention.

FSG must boldly sell Liverpool “superstar”

Since the advent of his Liverpool journey, Mohamed Salah has been nothing short of a “superstar”, as has been said by many, including Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville.

This is one of the greatest players of his generation, a right winger whose name commands respect. In the Premier League, he has cemented himself as a two-time champion, scoring so many goals and assisting so many more.

Across all competitions for the Merseyside outfit, Salah has scored 251 goals and supplied 120 assists across 427 appearances. Few thought he would establish himself as a talisman after joining from AS Roma in a deal worth around £34m. Liverpool signed a Chelsea reject and he would flop, wasn’t that the line?

Last year, of course, Salah decided that he wanted to double his titles, plying one of the great individual campaigns as he supercharged Slot’s debut season and secured silverware at a relative canter.

Could it be that the 33-year-old expended the last of his world-class juices last season? 2025 was a year that took its toll on Salah, as well as everyone else involved at Liverpool, and there’s no denying that his performances on the field this year have left a lot to be desired.

Only last April, Salah extended his Liverpool contract until 2027, now on a jaw-dropping £400k-per-week salary.

FSG, in that, have not received bang for their buck, with the Egyptian King having only scored four goals and supplied six assists across 18 top-flight encounters this season, criticised at large for his lack of defensive work and uncharacteristic bluntness in the final third.

The Saudi Pro League are proving persistent suitors; they would love nothing more than to land the Premier League’s definitive sensation of modern times.

Recent reports have suggested that Pro League side Al-Ittihad have opened talks with Salah’s representatives ahead of a potential summer bid, and it’s something that FSG should consider, as unpopular as that might be.

Salah is showing little sign of reviving his one-time level, and Father Time is not on his side. Watching him struggle to impress has been every bit as frustrating as watching Gakpo toil this term, likely more so. That said, the veteran forward is ageing and cannot be blamed for reaching this late stage of his career after giving Liverpool so much.

While Liverpool cannot afford to short-change themselves on the right flank (with Federico Chiesa’s future also uncertain), Salah is not pulling his weight, and the club will need to act and land an upgrade if this persists.

Salah doesn’t seem like the type who would want to play second fiddle, something that was illustrated during his incendiary flare-up in December.

This is a player who will go down as one of the greats, revered as an immortal presence by Liverpool fans. However, there is something to be found in recognising when a thing has reached its end, and Liverpool and Salah are indeed heading toward that critical juncture. A decision, for sure, needs to be made.