A Fabian Schar goal in the 90th minute denied Liverpool the three points against Newcastle United at St. James’ Park. However, the Reds were in a position to win because Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold combined to help them come back from a 2-0 deficit to lead 3-2 going into the final minutes. The Liverpool duo showed that they are worth every penny their representatives are demanding on a new contract for them respectively.
Salah scored twice and both the goals were created by pin-point passing from Alexander-Arnold from the right flank. It is as if the two decided to turn up and show the Liverpool bean counters why they must be given the massive contracts they are demanding from the club at the moment.
The right-back didn’t start the game but came on in the second half and made the difference to set up Salah twice to give Liverpool the lead, which they failed to protect by the end of the season.
The two teams shared the points but Salah and Alexander-Arnold left the stadium knowing that their Liverpool bosses are now aware of why they are worth holding on to despite suggestions that they were demanding too much money from the club.
The Reds would not dare lose both in the summer
Salah has been performing these rescue acts for Liverpool for years and did the same twice in a matter of weeks. He scored the two late goals to win the game at Southampton a couple of weeks back and was at it again on Tyneside on Thursday evening.
Alexander-Arnold’s hamstring problem has meant that Arne Slot has been forced to be more careful about starting games in the last two weeks. However, the right-back showed his qualities at Newcastle to set up those two crucial goals for Salah.
The duo showed their true worth on the pitch and have fans on their side in the contract tussle with the club hierarchy at the moment. In a public battle, the two players will win the race hands down against their bosses.
Can you name the team Liverpool sold these players to?
The Liverpool board are also playing a dangerous game as evident from their struggles to even tie down Virgil van Dijk on a new contract. In less than a month, these three players will be free to hold talks with clubs outside England.
Would they want to compete with top clubs offering Salah and Alexander-Arnold massive wages as they would not have to pay a transfer fee? They will have very real contract offers on their table from January onwards, which could be used as a yardstick in negotiations with Liverpool.
The Merseyside giants have enough evidence to suggest that they can’t afford to lose Salah and Alexander-Arnold’s impact on the team.
