Liverpool fan Abigail Rudkin joins The Football News Show to react to Mohamed Salah's new two-year contract extension at Anfield and explains why the Egyptian striker can continue his level for years to come.
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Phil McNulty
Chief football writer
Image source, Getty ImagesMohamed Salah's decision to move his Liverpool career towards the decade mark is a sign of continuing hunger for the game's biggest prizes, as well as an act of faith in the management of Arne Slot to help him achieve his goals.
When Salah used the stage at Southampton to expose his contract deadlock, it was only the third time in seven and a half years he had stopped to speak to reporters.
It was looked upon as a public exercise in getting talks moving, further evidence that Liverpool was always the place where Salah wanted to be. If that was the ploy it did not work immediately - but the desired outcome has now been achieved.
The Kop had already delivered its verdict with the banner based on his trademark goal celebration containing the message: "He Fires A Bow. Now give Mo His Dough."
Now that wish, as well as Salah's, has been fulfilled.
Saudi Arabia would have been fertile ground for Salah financially, but it could not offer the enticement of the biggest honours in the game, something he can still pursue at Liverpool.
Image source, Getty ImagesThere are lots of different perspectives in terms of how you watch a game of football, and I think for the majority of time the people in the stadium get the best atmosphere, but the worst views of how a game has actually gone.
You don't really get the chance to see multiple replays and have discussions about things, because you just get caught up in the moment.
With the incoming semi automated offsides, they did promise it earlier in the season - but I think the caveat was they're only going to do it when it's ready.
It is a positive that they didn't do it when it wasn't ready.
One upside to to the new technology is some of the arguments disappear. Previously you could say 'but it looks like it's this to me' or 'it looks like it's that to me'. When it is presented now, there aren't many people that will then be looking at the animation, going back to the video, and then going down a proper conspiracy rabbit hole.
So, it ends more arguments, not all arguments, but more arguments.
I think people, as a consequence, will be more accepting of it.
But, I still do believe that there's things for people to understand, because it can't be used in every situation. There are certain decisions which can still be a little bit more complex, and there's certain times where human intervention will still need to be brought in.
I wouldn't say it's as clear as, say, goal line technology, but it's a step in the direction to where most people feel more comfortable accepting the outcome and the speed of it as well will be encouraged.
It's not to say that it's going to be instant. If you believe this is going to be perfect, and always extremely fast, ask yourself, why do you think that?
Unless somebody has told you that from PGMOL, then take it with a pinch of salt and you see how it goes.
I think it's something that many people have seen before so hopefully there will be fewer arguments.
But, because it's football, there'll always be something to argue about the end of the day.
Jordan Chamberlain
Fan writer
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Mohamed Salah contract renewal has always felt like the one that was in the balance. Trent Alexander-Arnold probably leaving, Virgil van Dijk likely staying - with Mo up in the air.
So the deal being done is a massive boost; and just when Liverpool need it before a Sunday fixture against West Ham United. Anfield will be buzzing and will sing "Mo Salah, Egyptian King" loud and proud, which will hopefully revitalise the number 11 whose otherworldly form has vanished since the start of March.
Salah has two more years of top level football in him, for sure. But who do you play alongside the Premier League's greatest ever right-winger? Liverpool need a new striker, and someone who can do Salah's running. The 32-year-old is not a threat in behind any more and is not exactly a pressing monster either.
While Darwin Nunez can run, he lacks any composure and will be sold in the summer. The man Salah links up with best, of course, is Trent, who feeds him relentlessly. If he goes to Real Madrid as expected, Liverpool need to boost Salah's supply line.
It may well be that a more conventional right-back is signed, however. After all, there are no other Trents on the market. Then, we need an attacking midfielder who can find pockets and link up with Salah. Dominik Szoboszlai is renowned for his energy but not necessarily his cleverness on the ball. Harvey Elliott does better with Salah, but Arne Slot does not seem to fancy him.
So it might be that a genuine playmaker with physical attributes and a striker with pace and nous will be required to maximise the next two years of Salah.
Find more from Jordan Chamberlain at Empire of the Kop, external
Image source, Getty ImagesMohamed Salah is "mentally and physically the best player I've played with", says team-mate Andy Robertson.
Salah has committed his future for a further two years after months of uncertainty surrounding his future.
"It is huge news for the club," Robertson told BBC Radio 5 Live. "The fans will have woken up this morning with a smile on their faces and that's what the news should do.
"We're delighted for him. It's nothing less than he deserves - he's been fantastic for the eight years but more importantly this season.
"He's mentally and physically probably the best player I've ever played with. You can see how well he looks after himself - his mind, his body.
"When you're one of the best in the world, which he is, you have a need to succeed and win. You play football to win games, trophies and have these celebrations. The minute you don't have that desire to go and win these things then your time is up.
"Mo has still got that desire and has been the driving force to put us in the position we are today. We need a big seven games out of him and out of all of all of us. Then he can have a break in the summer, then he can come back and do it all over again!"
The Reds host West Ham on Sunday knowing they can take another big step towards winning the Premier League, and Robertson believes Salah's new deal will give a big lift to the Anfield crowd.
"I hope the atmosphere on Sunday will be special, we need the fans," he added. "We need a good atmosphere at Anfield.
"When it comes to us players, it gives us a boost because we see the person and how happy he [Salah] is. He's a friend, he deserves it. I'm more than happy for him than for the club to be honest.
"It's massive news to have our main man stay and our talisman commit. It has been an uncertain time and gone deep in the season so we're delighted he's here to stay."
Liverpool fans are in joyous mood as they react to the news that Mohamed Salah has renewed his contract with the club for two more years.
Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah has signed a new two year contract to stay with Liverpool, but are the club taking a risk offering a new big money deal to the 32-year-old?
Former Premier League midfielder Michael Brown tells The Football News Show why Salah can remain at his peak and where the club should be looking to recruit to support him.
Image source, Getty ImagesWe asked for your views on Mohamed Salah renewing his contract with Liverpool.
Here are some of your comments:
Yusuf: We had to make him stay. He has been the club's best player in the last 10 years, and losing him would have been unthinkable. Everyone in the club is happy and this is bad news for everyone else - the Premier League has Mohamed Salah for two more years.
Kieran: A genuine club legend who is still excelling at his job so it was important for the club to keep him. Also speaks to the club's ambitions. Bring on Virgil!!
Sean: Doubt you'll find anyone who will disagree with this outcome! Fantastic news! But let's be under no illusion, he will be 35 when this contract runs out, so Liverpool do need to start thinking about a replacement now. I am concerned that Harvey Elliott will leave based on this news, which is a real shame as he could be the ideal replacement in 2027.
Ayesha: If he'd left I'd have pretended it was fine! But obviously much prefer that he's staying. He'll recover his form. I just hope we can find someone else who'll feed him passes like Trent does.
Greg: Delighted Mo is staying. He's a legend. Today's top athletes are able to compete at the highest levels for longer, and I'm confident Mo will achieve this too."
Image source, Getty ImagesMohamed Salah's average number of goal involvements per 90 minutes is the highest among players to have played at least 1,000 minutes in a single Premier League campaign.
Salah has scored 27 league goals so far in 2024-25 and made a further 17 assists.
Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist
Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against West Ham (kick-off 14:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Goalkeeper Alisson Becker is available for Sunday's home game and Conor Bradley will return as right-back.
On Friday's breaking news that Mohamed Salah has signed a new two-year deal: "Happy, of course. He's shown this club for so many seasons in a row now how much value he has to the club. Like the fans, and his team-mates, I am very happy that he's extended."
He said it will bring "relief for the fans" but he "knew things were heading in the right direction".
Slot added: "It is a big compliment to Richard [Hughes] that he was able to extend Salah when he was a free agent and able to sign for any team in the world. But he chose to stay here."
On what makes Salah so special: "He's always judged as a player, but I see him as a human being. A humble human being, who works really hard and puts a lot of effort in to stay at this level. He brings the effort every single day. He can score goals but he can also score if he's not in his best 15 minutes or 30 minutes. That is because he is so mentally strong."
He said "there's not a lot of room for improvement" for Salah and this season they have got "almost the maximum out of his qualities" so he hopes that can continue for the next two years.
Salah staying will "help" recruitment in the summer because players will want to play with the Egyptian forward.
Slot said "it brings a positive vibe to the club", adding: "One of our star players over the last seven or eight years has chosen to extend his contract. It maybe shows how ambitious this club is and not just Mo."
On whether Salah's game has adapted as he's got older after recent criticism that he is not always involved in games: "I don't know if he was involved in every second of the game five r six years ago. I would be surprised if he was. Mo has a lot of impact in our games with assists and goals. He is a big threat."
Slot had no further update on the contract situation of Virgil van Dijk or Trent Alexander-Arnold but said: "We will see what is going to happen in the upcoming weeks so you will get your answers then."
And finally, on Bradley returning: "To have a player in his favourite position is better for the team. We would all make the same decision in playing Conor in that position [over Curtis Jones]."
Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news
Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist
It has been another outstanding season for Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and one that now feels even better after it was announced he has signed a new deal.
The 'Egyptian King' has scored 27 goals and created 17 in just 31 appearances for Liverpool in the Premier League.
It his his most prolific campaign since 2017-18, when he scored 32 goals in his debut season at Anfield.
To date, he has scored 184 Premier League goals, level fifth on the all-time list with Sergio Aguero after moving ahead of Thierry Henry on 175 and Frank Lampard's 177.
Only Andrew Cole (187), Wayne Rooney (208), Harry Kane (213) and leading scoring Alan Shearer (260) are ahead of him.
And in all competitions he has made 394 appearances, scoring an incredible 243 times while also providing 111 assists.
Only Ian Rush and Roger Hunt have scored more for the Reds throughout history.
Take a look below at the forward's goals and assists records across all competitions from the last eight years.
Image source, Getty ImagesLiverpool forward Mohamed Salah has signed a new two-year deal that will keep him at Anfield until the summer of 2027.
Salah, who signed from Roma in 2017, is the Premier League's leading scorer and has netted 32 goals in 45 appearances across all competitions this season.
"I'm very excited," said Salah. "We have a great team now. Before also we had a great team, but I signed because I think we have a chance to win other trophies and enjoy my football.
"It's great, I had my best years here. I played eight years, hopefully it's going to be 10. Enjoying my life here, enjoying my football. I had the best years in my career.
"I would like to say to [the fans], I am very, very happy to be here. I signed here because I believe we can win a lot of big trophies together. Keep supporting us and we'll give it our best, and hopefully in the future we're going to win more trophies."
Is it the news you were hoping for Reds fans? Just how important is Salah's new contract to the club's future under Slot?
Image source, Getty ImagesThis Is Anfield writer Sam Millne believes Mohamed Salah's contract extension talks haven't been "as cut and dry as some people say", amid reports that Liverpool are moving closer to agreeing a new deal with the forward.
Speaking on BBC's Total Sport Merseyside, Millne said: "There is a wider picture to be looked at where Salah has always declined in the second half of the season throughout his Liverpool career. He has actually scored over half of his goals in the first half of campaigns.
"I also don't think this contract situation is as cut and dry as some people say it is because you do have to look at his age and his wages.
"The thing with Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk is they are so athletically different to a lot of players.
"Salah has adapted his game so he is now coming a bit deeper to collect the ball and he is now being a bit more creative.
"You can see what an athlete he is - it is almost like as his pace has declined, his strength has increased. That is why he still holds that little edge on defenders.
"He hasn't been as good in the past few weeks but this is Mohamed Salah we are talking about, he could go on and score the winner next weekend from 20 yards out and dribble past three players."
Image source, Getty ImagesLiverpool have beaten West Ham 5-1 in the League Cup and 5-0 in the Premier League already this season. No English top-flight team has ever scored five or more goals against another three times in the same season before.
