One of Liverpool’s all-time greats, John Barnes, is the latest to give his thoughts on Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool exit.
We’re now a full week removed from Liverpool’s statement regarding Salah’s departure at the end of the season, but the international break means it’s still a hot topic on Merseyside.
Barnes is a Liverpool great of the same stature as Salah, so his perspective is unique. He isn’t too pleased with the timing of the Egyptian’s announcement, saying as much during a talkSPORT appearance, before discussing what life at Liverpool looks like once he leaves.
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Mohamed Salah warms up ahead of Liverpool's Premier League match against West Ham United at the London Stadium
Credit: Izzy Poles/AMA/Getty Images
John Barnes thinks Mo Salah announcement could hurt Liverpool’s season
We found out last week that Salah wanted to announce his exit early out of respect for the fans, but Barnes isn’t convinced it was the right decision.
He said on talkSPORT: “I don’t think it was a good time for him. I think we should have really got it at the end of the season and then he left, rather than announcing it now because I don’t think that necessarily helps.
Mohamed Salah during Wolverhampton Wanderers v Liverpool - Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round
Photo by Andrew Kearns – CameraSport via Getty Images
“It doesn’t help Liverpool. Liverpool aren’t doing particularly well, so that is a negative. Does that help the manager, Slot, in terms of the fans loving him when Salah’s not playing? He wants to go, but that’s not really going to help.”
I can see both sides here. The fan part, not so much, but Salah needed to signal to the market that he will be available. From the team’s perspective, it threatens to take focus away from the objectives Liverpool have for the season.
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If we’re assessing it purely objectively, it was probably too soon. But fans are sentimental, and it wouldn’t feel right not giving one of the all-time greats the farewell he clearly deserves.
Barnes on replacing Mo Salah
After making that point, Barnes looks ahead to next season, and what Liverpool look like without Salah.
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Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes watching on during the Reds' Premier League match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge (Credit: Getty Images/Robin Jones).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Robin Jones
He doesn’t think replacing him is a one-in, one-out job. Rather, he believes the attacking tools are already there.
As he explains: “In terms of replacements, if you look at what we have, our problem is going forward and scoring goals. I mean if we look at Wirtz, Ekitike and Isak, we’ve got Ngumoha, we’ve still got Gakpo.
“I don’t feel that we necessarily have to replace him, because I don’t think that the solution is to go and get another player and give him £400,000 a week to replace Mo Salah. We have enough strikers, we have enough attackers. Our problem is in midfield and defence, that’s really what we have to do. So I don’t think we have to go and replace him necessarily.”
His view is shared by a significant portion of the fanbase, who see efforts to replace one of the greatest Premier League players of all time as a fool’s errand.
If there was an obvious choice like Michael Olise available, then sure. But I see where Barnes is coming from. We’ll know which side of the fence FSG end up on when next season gets underway, probably sooner.
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