Mohamed Salah exclusive: Liverpool forward wants 'special' Premier League win in 'last year' at club

Mohamed Salah insists he’s decided to finish on a excessive at Liverpool and win the Premier League in what he suggests is his ultimate season on the membership.

Salah is in red-hot kind in the meanwhile with Arne Slot’s aspect six factors clear on the high of the Premier League with a sport in hand forward of their Tremendous Sunday conflict with Manchester United, dwell on Sky Sports activities (kick-off 4.30pm).

The 32-year-old is now high amongst Premier League gamers for each targets and assists this season, with 17 and 13 respectively, however his future stays unsure as he enters the ultimate six months of his contract.

No matter occurs, Salah, who wrote an inventory of his targets and ambitions for the season whereas on vacation final summer season, desires to do “one thing particular” for Liverpool and raise a second Premier League trophy for the membership come Could.

“The very first thing that was on the checklist was to win the Premier League with Liverpool,” Salah instructed Sky Sports activities.

“In my interviews during the last seven or eight years, I at all times say [I want to win the] Champions League. However that is the primary time I am saying I actually wish to win the Premier League with Liverpool.”

When requested why that’s, he added: “I do not know. It is in all probability as a result of we did not have a good time the one we gained in the way in which we wished and in addition, coming again right here too, it is my final 12 months within the membership so that you wish to do one thing particular for the town.

“That was the factor in my head.

“We waited for that title for 30 years or so. So, to win it and it was the pandemic at the moment, we did not actually have time to have a good time it in the precise manner. It is not a pleasant factor to do, so hopefully we will do it this 12 months.”

Below earlier boss Jurgen Klopp, Salah gained virtually each main membership honour with Liverpool, securing a Premier League title, a Champions League, the FA Cup and two league cups. In addition they added a European Tremendous Cup and a Membership World Cup

Nonetheless, Salah nonetheless believes this Liverpool group, which options virtually half of the gamers who loved a lot success below Klopp, must win one other trophy and specifically a second Premier League crown.

He stated: “My motivation this 12 months was to win a trophy and be a giant a part of successful that trophy, particularly the Premier League.

“I nonetheless consider the group wants a trophy. There may be nonetheless half of the group left like me, Trent [Alexander-Arnold], Virgil [Van Dijk], Alisson, Robbo [Andy Robertson].

“It’s a necessity for us to win one other trophy earlier than all of us go.”

When requested if Liverpool want a second title to cement their legacy, he added: “Sure, undoubtedly [to rubber stamp this Liverpool team as a great Premier League team].

“We have gained virtually every part, however we have gained the Premier League as soon as. Hopefully we will win it twice, which might be nice.”

Sitting down with Salah: Blissful, pleasant – and centered on one other title

Sky Sports activities’ Pat Davison:

The primary time I sat down with Mo Salah was at Anfield, throughout his first season. I used to be instantly struck by what a great talker he was, how assured he was. And naturally he went on to tear it up that season, simply as he’s doing this season. He’s nonetheless simply as partaking an interviewee – the most effective to speak to.

The off-field scenario along with his contract isn’t affecting his performances on the pitch and it doesn’t appear to be affecting his temper both. Chatting with him this week, he was comfortable, pleasant – and clear on what he wished to say about his future at Liverpool.

Particularly for the reason that departure of the likes of James Milner and Jordan Henderson, Salah has grow to be extra of a pacesetter and extra vocal. However he has at all times seen himself as a giant participant. He expects to ship in large video games and he desires to be the man talking to the media earlier than these matches. He has an unbelievable self-belief and drive.

I put a stat to him that Cristiano Ronaldo has solely had one season with higher numbers than Salah at this stage of a marketing campaign. Lionel Messi has had solely two. He was very proud to be in that firm – however that’s what he desires for himself, too.

I feel he additionally desires to increase his time at Liverpool. Throughout the interview he once more stated it was his ‘final 12 months’ with the membership. However I consider he doesn’t need that to be the case. No matter occurs, he appears decided to not let the problem get in the way in which of his performances and delivering one other Premier League title for Liverpool.

‘No progress on contract talks’

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk’s contracts are additionally set to run out in the summertime however Salah’s gorgeous performances this season guarantee he’s dominating the headlines.

Salah has already stated this season will likely be his “final 12 months” at Liverpool, including again in September that “no person has talked to me” about his expiring contract.

Once more on Sunday, he instructed Sky Sports activities he’s nonetheless “far-off” from agreeing a brand new contract with Liverpool after his player-of-the-match show of their 5-0 thrashing of West Ham and he reiterated the identical factor.

When requested if he actually believes that is his final season on the membership, he stated: “Up to now, sure. It is the final six months.

“There is no such thing as a progress there. We’re far-off from any progress.

“So, we simply want to attend and see.”

The hypothesis has not been a distraction for Salah, who’s in unimaginable kind.

Sunday’s sport towards West Ham was the eighth this season through which he has each scored and assisted, which is already essentially the most by any participant in a single Premier League marketing campaign.

He has additionally reached 30 purpose involvements in solely 18 Premier League video games – the fewest by any participant within the historical past of the competitors.

His whole of 52 purpose involvements in all competitions in 2024 is the very best by any participant in Europe’s main leagues.

When requested how he has stored his focus, he replied: “The factor in my head is that if that is the final six months, what do you wish to see sooner or later?

“Do you wish to look again and say I used to be involved or harassed in regards to the contract? Or do you simply wish to say I had an unbelievable season? That is what is in my head.

“If I ever really feel distraction, I simply remind myself I wish to look again and say I had an unbelievable season. That is what I wish to do.”

‘I at all times anticipate large issues of myself’

Liverpool boss Slot stated Salah is the very best participant on this planet proper now and Sky Sports activities’ Jamie Carragher believes the Egypt worldwide is in pole place for the 2025 Ballon d’Or.

Trying on the numbers, that are rivalling these of Cristiano Ronaldo at Actual Madrid and Lionel Messi at Barcelona of their pomp, it’s onerous to argue, however Salah is just not centered on particular person awards.

“I’m actually motivated to win the Premier League,” he stated.

“90 per cent of successful a person award relies on your efficiency with the group and successful a trophy with the group. In case you win together with your group, you might have a greater probability to win a Ballon d’Or or one thing like that.

“An important factor for me is to win the Premier League and to be a giant a part of that. I do not simply wish to have a small half. I wish to win it after which for individuals to say he made the distinction and made the group win.

“Once more, it is not straightforward to do. Arsenal are catching us. Chelsea are catching us. Man Metropolis will come again for positive. It is very tough however we simply have to remain centered, do not take it with no consideration and preserve working onerous. Hopefully we’ll win it in the long run.”

On his spectacular kind and people unimaginable numbers he’s hitting, he added: “I at all times anticipate large issues from myself.

“I work actually onerous and while you work so onerous you anticipate the very best out of your self. I at all times look to place myself actually excessive so I anticipated excessive issues from myself.

“I’m very proud to see the numbers however you simply must neglect it and keep humble.

“I do not wish to get to the top of the season and say I had unbelievable numbers however the group did not win something. I simply wish to win the trophy and have the large numbers.”

Salah thriving on duty in Slot’s Liverpool

Salah believes a change of regime has additionally helped him and Liverpool this season.

Jurgen Klopp left Liverpool after 11 years as supervisor in the summertime and Salah was him for seven extraordinarily profitable seasons at Anfield.

Nonetheless, Salah believes Slot’s arrival has helped the group, suggesting the Dutchman’s tactical modifications have added a brand new dimension to Liverpool, whereas the ahead additionally believes he’s thriving with extra duty throughout the group.

“The brand new supervisor has are available in with a brand new thought which helps the group,” he stated.

“We might been with Jurgen [Klopp] for seven years so perhaps issues have modified barely which makes us all need it extra and wish to win extra.

“That does not imply we did not wish to win extra however change may help the group and I’ve by no means been motivated to win the Premier League like now.

On how Slot has helped him this season, he added: “The way in which we play is totally totally different.

“With Jurgen, we had one system on a regular basis. We caught to what we had been doing with him, it did not matter what. We did that for seven to eight years.

“The brand new supervisor modifications one thing barely relying on the sport. We did not do this earlier than.

Salah’s altering function at Liverpool

Liverpool ahead Mo Salah on utilizing his expertise to assist the younger gamers on the membership enhance:

“Final summer season I stated I want to enhance in serving to the blokes to enhance. All of the gamers are very younger and I want to assist them to enhance as a result of it’s a part of soccer. You give expertise to the youthful gamers and assist them to be higher gamers. Hopefully they’ll be taught from that.
“You’ll be able to’t win the Premier League alone. You can’t win something alone. So, different gamers want to enhance as properly. That was one of many issues [I wanted to improve].

“I’m speaking to the blokes greater than earlier than. I’m attempting to know their feelings as a result of this can be a actually large a part of the sport. Some gamers heads are all over in order that’s why I’m attempting to assist as a result of when they’re calm, play good and specific themselves, it can assist the group to win trophies.

“Normally, I used to guide by instance. I nonetheless come to the health club right here first and attempt to be the final to go away. That was me and I’m nonetheless doing the identical factor, however I’m attempting to do some additional issues. You must give your expertise to the younger gamers, if they need, as a result of I’m not going to push it onto them in the event that they don’t need it. But when they wish to communicate, I’m right here.”

“In my sport, the group depends on me just a little bit greater than earlier than and someway it’s serving to me specific myself, play my sport and enhance some components of it.”

Liverpool’s bid to win a second Premier League title continues on Tremendous Sunday after they host Manchester United at Anfield, dwell on Sky Sports activities; kick-off 4.30pm.