Although Liverpool have edged closer to a second Premier League title as the season has progressed, there has been something of a dark cloud looming over Anfield. This cloud was the possibility that the Reds could lose three hugely influential players in the summer, all for absolutely nothing. The three players in question were, of course, the brilliant trio of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Although the future of Alexander-Arnold remains uncertain, the good news is for Liverpool that both Salah and Van Dijk have recently signed new contracts. In this article, we will assess what this means for Liverpool and why negotiations dragged on so long.
Drawn Out Negotiations
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Before assessing the importance of these recent contract extensions, let us look at whether Salah or Van Dijk were ever likely to leave Anfield this summer. Both, after all, only had around a couple of months left on their previous deal. In the case of the latter, the formidable central defender was probably seen as the player most likely to stick around. Although many clubs would love to have his services, no reliable source has indicated he even had initial discussions with another team about a possible move.
“It Was Always Liverpool” -Van Dijk
In the words of the Dutchman, “It was always Liverpool. That was the case. It was always in my head, it was always the plan and it was always Liverpool.” It would appear, then, that the defender was simply stalling to get the best deal possible and he had managed to do that. Despite heading into his final years at the highest level, the 33-year-old has managed to secure a two-year deal worth £400,000 per week, keeping him as the best-paid defender in European football.
“I’m Probably More Out Than In” -Salah
With Salah, on the other hand, there seemed to be a credible risk that this might be his farewell season at Anfield. Back in November, he said, “I’m probably more out than in” after not yet receiving a new contract offer. The frank admission did not, however, contradict his more recent statement that he always wanted to stay at Liverpool.
The main danger for Liverpool was the serious interest from Saudi Arabia for their talismanic Egyptian. There were reports that they were prepared to offer him in the region of £500m to move continents, a huge increase on the approximate £40m he will earn at Liverpool for the next two years.
Salah is reported as being open to a new challenge in Saudi Arabia, but not yet. Sporting ambition, rather than money, remains his greatest motivator and this is why he was keen to remain at Anfield and challenge for the biggest trophies around. It has also been suggested he wants to keep playing at an elite level to help improve Egypt’s chances in the World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations campaigns.
So, although it seems Salah never wanted to move, the 32-year-old did want a competitive contract that reflected his continued world-class ability. Liverpool may have been reluctant to pay so much for an ageing player at first, but eventually there was a breakthrough between Salah’s representative, Ramy Abbas Issa, and Liverpool sporting director, Richard Hughes. He is now tied to the club for another two years where he will earn close to £400,000 a week.
Contract Renewals Keep Liverpool Competitive
While Liverpool fans look set to celebrate another Premier League title this season, many would have been concerned about the future had Salah, Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold departed. With at least two of them guaranteed to stay, and arguably the most important pair, Liverpool’s future looks significantly brighter. Replacing Van Dijk and Salah with players of similar quality would have been a near-impossible ask, even if a large transfer fund was made available for the task.
Speaking about Van Dijk, Liverpool manager, Arne Slot, said he had not “worked with a player like him in terms of leadership… He’s having a big influence at this club”. Slot mainly spoke about his countryman’s impact off the pitch but Van Dijk’s presence on the pitch is just as important. Liverpool always look a better side with him involved, as you can see from the stats below.
| Premier League (since Jan 2018) | With Van Dijk | Without Van Dijk |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 229 | 25 |
| Draws | 160 | 12 |
| Losses | 46 | 10 |
| Win % | 69.9% | 53.2% |
| Avg. Goals Conceded | 0.9 | 1.0 |
Interestingly, Liverpool have a better win percentage without Salah, rather than with, but this does not tell the full picture. This season, following the 2-1 victory over West Ham, his goals and assists have been worth 37 points to Liverpool, already a Premier League record. He has always been a consistent threat for the Reds, regularly contributing in the attacking third, but he has been particularly excellent this year. With 27 goals and 18 assists in just 32 Premier League matches, this is not the sort of output you can replace, nor is it a sign of a player past their peak.
Both world class in their respective positions, Liverpool are now in a much stronger position for the 2025/26 season than they might have been otherwise and will surely be title challengers once again.
Is There a Danger These Big Contracts Will Backfire?
With Van Dijk turning 34 in the summer and Salah 33, this is not the time in a player’s career when they would usually receive a huge contract. The pair of them will be on close to £800,000 combined, so over £40m a year, representing a sizeable outlay. There are a couple of things to bear in mind here, though. One is that replacing them would have been far more expensive than this, as players of this elite quality do not grow on trees.
Neither Is Injury Prone
There might have been some risk for Liverpool had they been forced into three or four-year deals, but a two-year deal lowers the risk significantly. Both players are still world class and it is hard to see them suffering a stark decline over the next couple of years, with Salah’s fitness undoubtedly superb. Additionally, neither player is injury prone, so it is unlikely the club will be paying a lot of money for someone to help heat up the treatment room.
Ability to Leave in 2027
There is the possibility that either player may leave for free in 2027, but by this point their market value would have declined significantly, and it will not be as big of a loss as it would be now. All in all, this looks like great business for the Reds, especially when one considers that any replacement signings would not have been without risk.