The Liverpool fans in the Transfer Tavern are hoping their side will secure qualification for the Champions League this season for more reasons than one.
Liverpool’s season has been typically inconsistent and full of shocks and surprises, but they are still on course to finish inside the top-four this season. The Reds will face tough competition from Chelsea, Tottenham and potentially Arsenal if they are able to mount a late climb up the table.
There are plenty of obvious reasons which force Premier League clubs to prioritise qualifying for Europe’s greatest club competition above all else throughout their campaigns. Indeed, in this day and age many of the top clubs would prefer to finish inside the top-four and have a trophy-less season rather than finishing outside it but claiming a domestic cup trophy.
The importance of qualifying clearly exceeds the importance of almost any other objective, but for Liverpool their motivation for qualifying also relates to the future of their electric Egyptian Mo Salah.
James Pearce – a journalist who covers Liverpool FC for the Liverpool Echo – recently published an article expressing the importance of keeping Salah at the club beyond the end of the season.
Pearce’s post provoked a reaction from the Liverpool supporters who believe that discussing Salah’s departure is rather premature considering he has yet to complete a full season at the club.
One supporter claimed that an improved contract and a top-four finish would be necessary to retain his services, but the majority of fans were unwilling to entertain the prospect of his departure even if Liverpool fail to qualify for the Champions League this season.
Here’s what the Liverpool fans on Twitter had to say about Salah’s future in response to Pearce’s article….
There’s a reason Aguero has never left City. Money and success. Combined these two and we’ve got a chance. Otherwise, not going to happen. I think top four, CL semis he stays and gives us another season. https://t.co/7lLfWcxiHq
— Empire of the Kop (@empireofthekop) February 6, 2018
He’s been here less than a season and we are already talking of him leaving .. come on now .. give him a chance, he may surprise us !! .. he may not be that type of player !!
— Dowsey (@fbateallthepies) February 6, 2018
What's kind of player do you think he is? Every players want to improve in every ways.
— Tolle (@cabraloca_) February 6, 2018
He's been here a year, there is absolutely no chance he's going in the summer. Especially after Coutinho sale. Absolutely no chance.
— AnfieldIrish (@KopDublin) February 6, 2018
If Real give him a now or never ultimatum then it could be a messy Summer
— Cynical but happy (@PurestVideos) February 6, 2018
Funniest thing I have read in ages. No chance
— Rusty Nuts (@RustyNuts5) February 6, 2018
https://twitter.com/hchugani888/status/960975563740528640
Damn he's barely unpacked his suitcases here and you're already talking about him leaving? Wow
— Christopher Bent (@silverhawk876) February 6, 2018
Absolutely… need to keep him
— Rita Finlay (@RitaFinlay1) February 6, 2018
Resigning yourself to losing a player after half a season. What's the point? Where's your fight.
— ste (@SteTill) February 6, 2018
