Liverpool News: Mo Salah's Contract Motivation and Jamie Carragher's Transfer U-Turn

Liverpool has secured another win, topping the Premier League table after defeating Chelsea 2-1 at Anfield. Goals from Mohamed Salah and Curtis Jones, sandwiching a Nicolas Jackson equalizer for Chelsea, highlighted a strong performance from the Reds, despite missing their first-choice goalkeeper, Alisson. However, Diogo Jota's early exit due to injury raised concerns ahead of crucial upcoming fixtures against Arsenal and Leipzig.

Salah's Contract Motivation

Jamie Carragher believes Mohamed Salah is likely to extend his contract with Liverpool to ascend the Premier League's all-time goalscoring charts. Salah’s goal against Chelsea brought him to 162 Premier League goals, tying him with Jermain Defoe and just one shy of club legend Robbie Fowler. Carragher noted, "I think stats like this are one of the biggest reasons why Mo Salah will sign a new contract at Liverpool."

Carragher speculated that Salah might aim to surpass the likes of Thierry Henry (175 goals) and Frank Lampard (177 goals) by the end of the season. He emphasized that while contract negotiations would involve financial discussions, the pursuit of personal milestones and records would also be a significant motivating factor for Salah.

Slot Questions VAR Call

Liverpool manager Arne Slot expressed his concerns over several contentious VAR decisions during the match, including a penalty awarded to Liverpool that was later overturned after a VAR review. He remarked, "It's not so important anymore because we won, but I think it could have been a crucial decision." Slot questioned the rationale behind the VAR intervention, suggesting that the on-field referee's initial assessment should have stood. He also pointed out a missed red card for Chelsea's Tosin, drawing comparisons to a similar situation involving Arsenal’s William Saliba.

Carragher's Transfer U-Turn

Following Curtis Jones’ standout performance against Chelsea, Jamie Carragher reconsidered his earlier thoughts on Liverpool needing additional central midfielders. Previously, he had suggested a potential move for Spanish midfielder Martin Zubimendi, who declined a summer transfer. However, after Jones' impressive display, Carragher stated, "What a performance that was... For a local lad to be player of the match... you think 'no' [to signing Zubimendi]." He added that Jones now needs to demonstrate consistency in his performances.

As Liverpool navigates through a challenging schedule, the contributions of key players like Salah and Jones will be vital. With potential contract negotiations for Salah on the horizon and a reassessment of squad needs prompted by Jones' performance, the coming weeks could prove pivotal for Liverpool both on and off the pitch.