Liverpool are expecting a few anxious months as they await an update on Mohamed Salah's future at Anfield.
The Egypt international has played a crucial role in Arne Slot's 100% record so far in Premier League action with three goals from three games.
Another brilliant performance away at Manchester United before the international break underlined Salah's hunger for a big season as Slot's charges stormed to a 3-0 win at Old Trafford.
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However, Salah's post-match comments have triggered a wave of speculation over what could happen next, with his current contract expiring at the end of the season.
The club are expected to open imminent talks with Salah's representatives, but the 32-year-old is driven solely by winning another major trophy on Merseyside, in what could be his final year at Liverpool.
"We need to carry on and try to win a big trophy this season. I love playing in big games for the club. Man United, everybody knows the history between both clubs", he told a fans Q&A via the Premier League.
"Once goals in those games start, it become easier. The record I was into 'too much' was the Premier League record for Liverpool.
"That was in my head, that’s why I took the shirt off against United (after scoring a record 129th Premier League goal for Liverpool in the 7-0 victory at Anfield in March 2023).
"Being a natural goal scorer has developed with time. At Roma, in two seasons I scored 30 goals. Now if I scored 30 goals in two seasons, they’re going to kill me here!"
Mo Salah Liverpool stats, trophies won
Salah has scored 214 goals in 352 appearances across all competitions since joining Liverpool in 2017 which places him fifth on the club's all-time goal scorer list.
158 EPL goals keeps him clear at the top of Liverpool's Premier League goal list, with his EPL career tally of 161 (including three at Chelsea) putting him 10th on that list.
As he moves into his eighth season at Liverpool, Salah has won one EPL title (2020), one UEFA Champions League crown (2019) alongside two EFL Cups, one FA Cup and the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup double in 2019.
What did Mo Salah say on his future?
Salah did not definitively say this is his final Liverpool season with the key focus on the club's ownership and plans for renewal talks.
"I was coming to the (United) game, I was saying, 'look, it could be the last time'. Nobody in the club talked to me yet about contracts so I was just like, 'OK, I play my last season and see at the end of the season'.
"I feel I am free to play football – we will see what happens next year."
Those comments will ramp up the pressure on Liverpool to reach out over a new deal, following a lack of action, on Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
