Man Cityvs.Liverpool

Mohamed Salah will prove to be the difference between Liverpool and Manchester in their Premier League clash on Sunday, Reds expert David Lynch has argued.

The Merseysiders travel to the Etihad stadium to take on Pep Guardiola's City, who come into the clash in fourth place with 44 points, 17 points behind the Reds.

In seasons past the Reds' game against City would have been a clash between two title rivals, but a win for Liverpool will see them move 11 points ahead of second-placed Arsenal, who lost 1-0 against West Ham United on Saturday afternoon.

Lynch expressed his belief to Sports Mole that Salah will almost certainly be the difference maker on Sunday, saying: "It's hard to see Liverpool winning without his fingerprints being all over it because he is just such a consistent threat in these games, but he's just a consistent threat in every game for Liverpool this season.

"In terms of pure output, he's on for his best season ever at Liverpool which, considering what his first season was like, it didn't seem possible that he could do that so he's absolutely phenomenal."

Salah managed to register 58 goal contributions in 2017-18 - 44 goals and 14 assists - but he has already scored 29 goals and produced 20 assists this season.

Salah's record against Manchester City

Salah produced an assist for Cody Gakpo to open the scoring against Guardiola's side in the reverse fixture on December 12, before converting a penalty in the second half to seal a 2-0 victory at Anfield.

The Egyptian boasts a phenomenal record against Guardiola's side having scored 12 goals and registered seven assists against the Citizens in 22 appearances.

It would not be surprising if Salah added to his tallies on Sunday, and Lynch argued that the winger will have an impact on the game regardless of how well City try to defend against him, telling Sports Mole: "You keep thinking that at some point this run he's on is going to end and the goals will dry up, that he'll go through a four or five game patch where he doesn't score, but it just doesn't seem to be coming.

"He's in remarkable form and if Liverpool are going to win this game he will have a big say and there's no question about that because he's so influential and Slot has made him a big part of this team. Everything is going towards him and going through him and that is by design, so it's a really good plan from the manager and the player is absolutely making it work because he's world class."

It should be noted that Salah has only scored more often against Manchester United than City in his career having netted on 15 occasions against the Red Devils.

Will Salah stay at Liverpool?

Despite Salah's remarkable form and consistency for the Reds, he is out of contract in the summer, and there has been no indication that an agreement over an extension is nearing.

Liverpool owners FSG have been reluctant in the past to give out lucrative deals to stars in their thirties, but there is a case to be made that Salah - despite being 32 - could continue to perform at a world-class level for some time given how well he maintains his health and fitness.

Lynch expressed his hope that a contract extension will be agreed as a failure to come to terms would be illogical when Salah is arguably the best player in the world.

The Liverpool expert told Sports Mole: "The whole question around [Salah] as well and the discussion point is that he's still not signed that contract yet, so it adds a layer of worry for Liverpool supporters, but I don't see how Liverpool won't get this sorted on the basis that you've got arguably the best player in the world at the moment playing for you.

"He's clearly going to produce this level for at least another 18 months or so. You can't imagine that Liverpool would be able to dip into the transfer market and replace this guy, so surely they're going to have to sign him up."

No other Premier League player has scored more than Salah's 24 league goals and no other player has produced more than his 15 assists, and allowing the Egyptian to leave when he is at the peak of his powers would be very risky.

Press play on the video at the top of this article to hear the full discussion between Liverpool expert David Lynch and Steven McInerney of Esteemed Kompany ahead of Sunday's Premier League clash.

Written by

Lewis Nolan