Mohamed Salah has said that his burning desire to secure Premier League glory for Liverpool this season drives him every day, following the signing of a new two-year contract on Friday.
The 32-year-old Egyptian forward has shown remarkable focus, despite months of speculation over his future, scoring 27 goals and providing 17 assists in 31 league appearances. His contributions have helped Liverpool open up an 11-point lead at the top of the Premier League table with seven matches remaining.
Salah was part of the Liverpool squad that secured the club’s first league title in 30 years during the 2019/20 season. However, the celebration was marred by Covid restrictions, as the Reds lifted the trophy in front of an empty Anfield and there was no victory parade through the streets.
“I think I said at the start of the season, I just want to win the Premier League more than anything else. I want it so badly,” Salah told Liverpool’s official website. “I think we owe it to the fans. They deserve to enjoy it after such a long wait, with celebrations at Anfield and in the streets, just enjoying ourselves winning the Premier League.”
Discussing the prospect of winning the title in front of a full Anfield, Salah added: “That’s something that drives me crazy every day – to come to work and push myself and motivate the other players too, because we’re closer than ever to winning it in such a special way.”
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has also faced questions about the futures of captain Virgil van Dijk and right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose contracts are set to expire at the end of the season, during his first campaign in charge.
Slot acknowledged that the news of Salah’s contract extension might have come as a “pleasant surprise” for fans, but he also praised the club’s sporting director, Richard Hughes, for ensuring the Egyptian remained at Anfield.
“I don’t think it’s a surprise to you that I was aware of how his contract situation was progressing throughout the season,” said Slot. “Maybe for the fans it was a nice surprise. I knew for a while that things were heading in the right direction.”
Slot added, “I think it’s also a big compliment to Richard that he managed to secure Mo Salah, who is such a great player and could probably go to any club in the world. But he stayed at our club, and that’s a compliment to Richard.”
