Liverpool could soon have to think about life beyond Mohamed Salah, but the emerging Luis Díaz is showing why Jürgen Klopp is still in control.
The 25-year-old Colombia international has been a revelation since arriving from FC Porto in January. And at a time when Salah's agent is posting laughing emojis on Twitter as the latest is posted regarding his contract situation, the signing is looking more and more significant.
Connecting with Joël Matip's pass that was borrowed from Trent Alexander-Arnold's drawer, Díaz got the Reds off to the perfect start on the south coast (Brighton)— a precursor to a dominant all-round performance, but also a reminder to Salah that this ship can sail without him.
Klopp's quadruple chase needs no distractions.
Liverpool are mounting the pressure on Manchester City. Clutch wins against West Ham and
Brighton have ensured that no ground has been lost in the title charge, and the Reds have done that without a reliance on Salah.
Perhaps that should be no surprise, given that Liverpool are no longer a one-man team. The days of the Reds relying on Steven Gerrard leading a cast with only speckles of stardust are long gone — though you wouldn't know that from how Salah's agent has behaved during the negotiations.
“I said it several times, if the decision is up to me, I want to stay in Liverpool," he said previously.
"There is no problem but we have to reach an agreement for the contract, it’s up to them," Salah told Egyptian channel Masr TV back in December.
The reality is that it just doesn't feel that way.
The 29-year-old star is on a path bound for immortality at Anfield. While his preference is to stay, it's clear that he is also open to moving on. No Liverpool fan would begrudge him for going in search of a new challenge, though the least Klopp would expect is to not be left on a contract carousel.
But one party has to get off at some point. As Luis Díaz continues to shine in the Premier League, Salah could soon realise that the decision is in fact up to him.
Díáz's impressive run that carved a glowing chance for Salah who missed wide is a reminder that he isn't worth twice the salary of
Virgil van Dijk —and also of the Egypt international's current form that has cooled since the turn of the year. Salah has scored just three times from open play in his last 10 games.
For
Salah, the current situation isn't about thinking of a figure that you think you deserve and then claiming it's the club's decision to let you go if they don't match it. While the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City can comfortably offer him £400k per week, that's not how FSG have built their winning model on Merseyside.
Díaz could be further proof of that model, with the glowing signs showing that he could well be already on the cusp of world-class status. The Colombian's performances have provided a glimpse into the future — one that could potentially be without Salah.
Turning 30 in June, the pressure will only continue to mount as it becomes clear that the Reds won't be breaking the wage structure for his services. Should Salah turn his back on one of the best teams of the modern era, that is only at the expense of his own legacy and winner's medals.
Liverpool's recruitment team have engaged in the rhetoric that his agent has proposed throughout the year, but the astute coup of
Luis Díaz in January looks, yet again, to be a piece of 4D chess to that leaves the Reds prepared should they part ways with Salah.
...............................................................
Comment
Salah who turns 30 this summer, is not worth twice the salary of VVD. But, the oil clubs of this world and reckless clubs that do not operate sustainably, have skewed the market.
Lots of top talent available this summer. Salah may find his options limited depending on what happens with Neymar, Mbappe, and Haaland.
Chelsea sorting out their situation could be a huge.as well.
