Alan Shearer has confessed that he underestimated the determination of Liverpool star Mohamed Salah. Amid speculation about his contract and potential departure from Anfield, Shearer had predicted that Salah might experience a slight decline in form.
However, the 32-year-old forward has defied these expectations, netting another goal in Sunday’s 2-1 triumph over Wolves. The strike, Salah’s 28th goal this season, showcases his remarkable form and reinforces his position as a leader in Liverpool’s pursuit of the Premier League title.
During The Rest is Football podcast, alongside Gary Lineker and Micah Richards, the former Newcastle United star expressed his initial concerns: “He’s some player. I thought, and I said earlier in the season, that there might be a tiny, not a lot, but a tiny sort of drop off because of the contract situation, the worry that you haven’t got the protection, I guess, or the guarantee of that behind you going forward. But at the minute, there hasn’t been at all.”
Shearer believed that it would have been natural for Salah to experience a slight dip in performance due to the ongoing speculation about his future.
Nevertheless, the Egyptian international has shown remarkable mental strength and resilience, proving his doubters wrong: “I thought it would have been only human nature to see a tiny, tiny drop off. But there isn’t. And I think that tells you about his mindset and how tough he is mentally.”
Richards, who previously urged Liverpool to give Salah whatever he demands to keep him at Anfield, has clarified his comments further. He explained: “When I say give him what he wants, I didn’t mean blow the wage structure to a different level.
“I just mean there’s a player who doesn’t always have to play at the top of his game and he can still produce magical moments.”
He praised Salah’s ability to create and score, as seen in his assist for Alexis Mac Allister and his goal in the recent Merseyside derby, highlighting the difference between a world-class player like Salah and others.
“He’s just so deadly. And I hope we can get the contract sorted because I want to see him in the Premier League because he’s just that good in the big moments.”
However, last month, Salah hinted at a possible departure from Liverpool. “Do I believe this is my last season? So far, yeah. It’s the last six months. There is nothing, no progress there and we are far away from any progress, so we just need to wait and see.”
This article originally appeared on the Liverpool Echo
