LONDON – Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah admits his protracted contract talks with the quadruple chasers are a “sensitive situation”.
Salah has 16 months left on his current contract and the Egypt star is reportedly demanding a deal that would make him the Premier League’s top earner.
Ahead of Sunday’s crucial clash with English Premier League leaders Manchester City, Salah conceded it was a delicate issue for all concerned but insisted he would not be a distraction to Liverpool’s title charge.
Jurgen Klopp’s side is one point behind leaders City with eight games left.
Salah has only one goal in his last seven matches, but has netted 28 times in all competitions for Liverpool this term.
“There are many things that people don’t know about it. I can’t be selfish and talk about my situation because we are in the most important situation that is coming for the team,” Salah told Sky Sports News.
“I’ve said many times what I want but I can’t really go deep into the contract now because it is a sensitive situation.
“I can’t go in the news and talk about the contract now, I am just focused on the team,” Egypt’s star added according to AFP.
“That is the most important thing for me, being focused to win trophies and I’m just giving everything for the club.”
Liverpool manager Klopp said that it is simply a joy to carry out their analysis work on Man City ahead of Sunday’s Premier League title clash at the Etihad Stadium.
The two teams, who have dominated the league over the past five seasons, are separated by just a point with leaders City hoping they can restore some breathing space with a victory.
Since Chelsea won the title in 2017, no team has come close to competing with the North West pair at the top of the table, with Liverpool’s triumph in 2020 the only time Pep Guardiola’s side have missed out on top spot.
Klopp is used to taking on Guardiola’s teams with his Borussia Dortmund side twice losing out to the Spaniard’s Bayern Munich team before the pair locked horns in England.
“If I would be a different person I would be, probably, a little bit depressed about the fact that Pep Guardiola is constantly coaching these kind of teams,” Klopp said recently in an interview with Premier League Productions.
“Maybe in Dortmund we could’ve won more titles if Pep wouldn’t have been at Bayern. Now, it is pretty much the same, imagine if he would not be here, we probably could’ve won at least one more league title. But I am not like this, thank God. So, I am completely happy with our situation,” he said according to Reuters.
Guardiola has made no secret of his admiration for Liverpool, recently calling them the toughest opponent he has faced in his career as a manager and the feeling is mutual.
“I respect a lot what they do; it’s an insane football team. And, for me, the world’s best manager,” added Klopp, who said the task of studying Guardiola’s side ahead of the game is a rare pleasure.
“I couldn’t respect more what they are doing. I like watching them. I cannot say I love a lot of opponents, or competitors, but I really like watching City.
“So, always when we play them, the analysis is a mix of serious work and real joy… it’s fantastic football. It’s, like, the next level,” he said, stressing City’s ability to tighten and expand spaces on the field.
Liverpool has not won any of the last four meetings between the teams, including the 2-2 draw at Anfield in October, but momentum in the title race has shifted towards Klopp’s side.
Man City had a 13-point lead in mid-January although Liverpool had played two games fewer at that point.
Draws at Southampton and at home to Crystal Palace along with a home defeat to Tottenham allowed Liverpool to close the gap with a 10-match winning run.
Seven games remain for the teams after Sunday’s clash but with both so consistently dominant, the outcome of their face-off could be crucial.
City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne said that the players are relishing the prospect of a classic.
“I think everybody is looking forward to it. I think the players will take it as a privilege to play these games,” he said.
“As a player you want to win games and trophies and if you want to do that then you need to win these big games. But if you win, draw or lose, there is still a lot to play for.”
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