Mohamed Salah’s future looms at Liverpool’s training ground when Sky Sports arrive on Friday morning.
There were no offers from Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad but a flurry of reports on Thursday afternoon claiming they were ready to do everything they could to strike a deal to sign the Anfield icon, has caused nervousness among Liverpool fans.
But boss Jurgen Klopp keeps his cool.
“There’s a lot going on around us, but that’s it,” he says as he sits down for an exclusive interview. “There is speculation and I think it’s quite normal at the moment.”
Does Salah also keep his cool?
Liverpool have a tough trip to Newcastle, live on Sky Sports on Sunday, and need their talisman sharp. A goal and an assist in his first two games of this Premier League campaign suggests he’s just as hungry as ever; the fact that he now has up to 200 goals for the club is a reminder of his importance.
Sunday August 27 at 4:00 p.m.
But the considerable sums that Al Ittihad would be ready to pay could easily constitute a diversion.
“Mo is a very experienced player and 100% committed to us here, to the club,” Klopp says emphatically when asked if Salah’s concentration could be affected. “No, I’m not worried about that, to be honest.”
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Liverpool have of course benefited from the emergence of Saudi Pro League buying power this summer. Sales of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho have brought in over £50m, boosting the finances needed to rebuild the Reds midfield.
But those deals were done during pre-season as Liverpool had time to reinvest. Speculation over Salah comes a week before the Premier League transfer window and with Saudi clubs able to continue signing until September 7, it’s a major problem for Klopp.
“At a normal club in the Premier League or other leagues, there’s always the possibility that a big club will come and get you players. Now that market has expanded,” he said. “I don’t know if that worries me or not, we’ll have to see.
“We have our own experience with Hendo and Fabinho. But in general what is a real problem is the longer transfer window.
“It’s a real problem because as long as you have the ability to react, it’s kind of part of the business.
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“When you can no longer react, it’s a disaster. It’s the truth.
“That’s why I already asked the authorities a few weeks ago to look at what would be really bad if they could just choose players.”
The coming weeks will be intriguing, with the future of Liverpool’s star man in the spotlight and the club’s determination to keep him testable.
But Salah’s situation clouds what would have otherwise been an encouraging start to a project Klopp has labeled an ‘LFC reboot’.
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A draw at Chelsea on the opening weekend was followed by a home win against Bournemouth and a victory at Newcastle would add momentum and confidence to a side that looked refreshed and rejuvenated after their struggles in the last season.
One of the newcomers who epitomizes this newfound dynamic is Dominik Szoboszlai.
Liverpool’s Szoboszlai impressed in his first appearances for the club
No Liverpool player has run further or faster than the 22-year-old against Bournemouth. He topped his team’s stats for dribbling and sprinting and only Andy Robertson had more touches. He won a penalty and saw Diogo Jota hit the net on his saved shot.
It was an impressive debut at Anfield and immediately made the Hungarian popular with Liverpool supporters.
He’s a player who seems perfectly suited to Klopp’s style – and the head coach is excited about Szoboszlai’s potential.
“His energy, combined with technique, desire… pretty much every attribute you want to see,” Klopp said when asked what he likes about the midfielder.
“The last thing you would think of seeing him play is that he’s only 22, so there’s a lot more to come, when he settles down.
Dominik Szoboszlai has been a standout player on the right side of Liverpool’s midfield so far this season – a deeper role than he played at RB Leipzig.
“Obviously he has no problem adapting to everything in an instant. There is still more to come and we are really happy. From day one he is full of energy, already in the middle of the team.
“He loves playing this kind of football. I think he’s playing in a different position than he played at RB Leipzig, for example, but with his skills he can probably play higher up the pitch as well.
“He’s got the speed to get past players. He’s got the technique, he’s got the finishing skills – we haven’t even seen them properly yet, but his shot is really special.
“We’ve now put him a bit deeper into the game. He’s obviously enjoying that a lot and he’s doing well. He’s doing very well.”
Klopp on Mac Allister’s canceled red card
“I’m very happy. I was sure it wasn’t a red card but I wasn’t sure our appeal would go through because that’s how it usually goes. But this time I think that it was really obvious.
Imagine that would have been a red card – that would have meant for the rest of the season contacts on the pitch and players going out!
We already had a 40-minute suspension. It should not be forgotten. It made the game much harder, much more intense. Yes, we scored the third goal which was very helpful, but we really had to go through something in that game and it wasn’t cool.
Ibou [Konate] will not be available this weekend. So it could be because of that, because it was super intense and so he felt his muscles slightly. So that’s how it goes.
“The referee saw it at that time. It’s football, it’s very fast, it’s really difficult. I don’t blame him at all.
Klopp’s Diaz delight: ‘We missed him like crazy!’
Klopp had some positive things to say about his other summer signings, Alexis Mac Allister and Wataru Endo as well. But it lights up when we talk about the form of Luis Diaz.
The winger, who scored against Chelsea and Bournemouth, will make his 50th appearance for Liverpool if he steps onto the ground at St James’ Park this weekend. But despite this total of games, his impact at the start of the season resembles that of a new recruit.
The knee injury he suffered at the Emirates Stadium last season extended into a six-month hiatus. It was a blow for a player who had worked so hard for his big move to Liverpool and started his journey with the club so electric.
But now the future is bright and after what Klopp calls “a horrible year” for the Colombian, Diaz looks set to play a key role in that Liverpool restart.
“We missed him last year like crazy,” Klopp said. “It was a bad day at Arsenal and what happened that day. We all knew then that losing a player like him was not helpful.
“Finding him again, you can immediately see the impact he has. A top player.
Luis Diaz has scored two goals in two games this season after a long injury absence last year
“The goal he scored [against Bournemouth] I’m not sure I’ve seen many, to be honest. Passing through the middle, the player tries to control the ball, but he already knew before the first touch what he wanted to do with the second. So it also showed his finishing skills.
“On top of that he obviously has speed and dribbling and, getting in, shooting and passing… for the way we want to play, that’s super important. Fantastic player.
“When Lucho arrived here, the whole world became aware of his special story, of the time he spent hiding somewhere until finally the world of football took notice of him. And then from that At that time, everything happened very quickly.
“So I think he really appreciates the situation he’s in right now, he’s definitely at the right club for him, and everyone cares about him and really thinks of him a lot.
“It’s been a horrible year. But now let’s put that behind us and just be positive.”
That seems to be the general feeling at Liverpool at the moment: a team keen to put their past troubles behind them and embrace the exciting opportunities ahead.
There will be new challenges ahead – including Salah’s future – but Klopp looks to the future with optimism.
Watch Newcastle vs. Liverpool live Sky Sports Premier League from 4 p.m. on Sunday; kick off at 4:30 p.m.
