Liverpool have obtained two fantastic items of stories within the final seven days, with Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk signing new contracts as a way to prolong their respective spells at Anfield.
Salah’s renewal was introduced final week, with van Dijk’s resolution being made official on Thursday – days after he scored the successful purpose in Liverpool’s 2-1 victory over West Ham, which was one other step within the path of Arne Slot’s aspect successful the Premier League.
Salah and van Dijk have been two of Liverpool’s high performers this season, and regardless of each being of their thirties, there was a transparent want for them to stay on the membership.
Salah and van Dijk staying is ideal information for Liverpool
In his unique CaughtOffside column, Collymore spoke on his delight at Salah and van Dijk signing new contracts at Liverpool.
“It’s wonderful for Liverpool to retain the companies of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk. For me, it doesn’t matter how a lot cash they’ve been provided given their ages, as a result of the cash that it could price to switch them would certainly be a lot extra. Each of them are greater than able to holding their ranges for the following 2-3 years, even when they have been to regress barely by way of bodily health.
“In van Dijk’s case, he’s very able to sustaining his pure capacity to learn a match even when he slows down – he simply has that factor that so many different defenders don’t. And with Salah, I don’t see him shedding a lot of that vital tempo two or three years down the road. The one factor that each should be cautious of is being overplayed, which might convey on accidents – however to handle this, I’d not be shocked to see them retire from worldwide soccer within the not-too-distant future. There may very well be a dialog about that after the 2026 World Cup.”
Collymore additionally believes that it was extra vital for Liverpool to retain the companies of Salah and van Dijk as an alternative of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who appears set to affix Actual Madrid as a free agent.
“When you had instructed me final summer time that Liverpool would hold Salah and van Dijk however lose Trent Alexander-Arnold, I’d have been doing cartwheels – and I’m positive that supporters will really feel the identical. The latter is a wonderful participant, however he’s not as essential to Arne Slot’s aspect as the opposite two. Conor Bradley is greater than able to stepping up, and by way of passing output, there may be already the likes of Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister. However Liverpool usually are not a protracted passing aspect anyway.”
