Jamie Carragher has suggested that Liverpool could look ‘different’ if they had to replace Mo Salah and Sadio Mane after their Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid in Paris, as he told CBS Sports on Paramount+ (28/05/22 at 11:20 pm).
The Anfield legend stated that Salah ‘hasn’t been right’ in Liverpool colours during the second half of the season, as he endured a night to forget in France’s capital.
Salah has openly made it clear that he will be at Liverpool next season, but there isn’t any clear idea if he or Mane will sign new contracts.
Before the Champions League final in Paris, there has been heavy talk of Bayern Munich wanting to lure Mane to Germany.
Could this be the end of Liverpool fans watching Mane and Salah cause havoc on Merseyside?
Well, Carragher suggested it could be after Vinicius Junior’s goal ended Liverpool’s chances of winning the treble this season.
“They were up against a great goalkeeper, who had one of the best games he will ever have,” said Carragher.
“When I say Liverpool’s front three didn’t do quite enough, they still didn’t quite have a chance where you think ‘he has to score or he must score’.
“Mo Salah hasn’t been right in the second half of the season. This is Mo Salah at his best (his right-footed shot that was saved by Courtois). Really sharp and you have to hold your hands up and say ‘the keeper is absolutely fantastic’.
“Liverpool have played in three finals. They haven’t scored in any of them. Yet this is one of the best teams for scoring goals. That is a worry going forward.
“Also, the situation with Salah and Mane. This could be, not the end for this team, but who knows what will happen in the summer now? It could be a different Liverpool team we are looking at next season if you had to replace those two.”
ARE LIVERPOOL AT A CROSSROADS?
The Reds do need to sort out the contract situations of their star men because Jurgen Klopp has sent out his signal that he is here for the next four years.
A new midfielder will probably come in this summer, with Monaco’s Aurelien Tchouameni strongly linked with the Reds and Real Madrid.
But could there be a change in the forward areas? Luis Diaz’s arrival in January elevated the team.
He wasn’t brought in as a direct replacement for anyone, but all this talk around the likes of Mane just won’t go away because Madrid are also hovering.
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