Former England captain Phil Thompson joined Joe Molloy on Off The Ball to discuss Mohamed Salah and Liverpool vs. Manchester City.
Mohamed Salah had a quiet game on Sunday against Manchester City.
He was quiet for all but two moments that spanned maybe 50 seconds. In those 50 seconds, he created the opening goal out of nothing for Sadio Mane before scoring one of the greatest goals the Premier League has seen to put Liverpool 2-1 ahead.
Phil Thompson spent a career in football as a player and as an assistant manager where he saw some truly spectacular goals. He watched Steven Gerrard's career during his peak years, but still found himself marvelling at what Salah did on Sunday.
"The two goals...what Mo Salah did was genius," Thompson said.
"Pure genius...he's being rated now as the best possibly in the world. In Europe at this moment he's actually at the peak. He's coming up to 29 years of age. It is one of those things where you'll have to make the numbers add up.
How much value for money is Mo Salah? 💰
🗣️ "You're better giving that to Mo Salah than paying that premium for a top striker"
Ex-Liverpool player Phil Thompson says #LFC should give Salah a new deal rather than buying in.
Football with @SkyIreland pic.twitter.com/Ps3PYxlAZh— Off The Ball (@offtheball) October 4, 2021
"Is he going to be worth it? I would say yes."
Jamie Carragher speculated before the game on Sunday that Salah wants Kevin De Bruyne money. That's £400,000 per week. Liverpool have a wage structure that they would need to break to meet Salah at that point.
Thompson doesn't think that should be a problem.
"You look at the goal return season on season...you've got a tried-and-trusted guy here. So I think he's coming to that point where they've got to get their heads together and...looking at the max of it all, you might as well give Mo Salah that what you're going to have to pay that premium for a top-quality striker.
"You've got one there on your doorstep so why not give him what he wants."
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