sport news Liverpool expect Mo Salah to stay despite his expiring contract and worrying ... trends now
Mo Salah has not looked himself of late. A spat with Jurgen Klopp, time running out on his contract and a reduction in his production have all cast doubt on his future at Liverpool.
But just when Reds fans were ready to countenance their talisman's departure, reports surfaced which claimed the club expect him to remain for at least another year.
The revamped Anfield hierarchy's reluctance points to the reality of replacing a player who has scored 210 goals in 346 games for the club since arriving in 2016.
Salah's numbers may have reduced in recent games - he has failed to find the net in his last four league outings. But earlier this season he became the first player in Liverpool history to net 20 goals in seven consecutive campaigns.
Additionally, goals are only part of the picture for Salah. He regularly sits towards the top of the assist charts and has again chipped in with his fair share of created chances. With this in mind, Mail Sport takes a look at how the Egyptian King's goal contributions compare to his peer in Europe's top-five leagues.
Mohamed Salah has faced criticism for his lacklustre showing in recent matches for the Reds
The 31-year-old was involved in a heated exchange with his manager Jurgen Klopp during Liverpool's 2-2 draw with West Ham last weekend
Son Heung-Min - 25
The Tottenham captain gave himself an outside chance of winning his second Premier League Golden Boot with a penalty in Sunday's thrilling north London derby. The South Korean's 16th league goal of the campaign sparked hope of an unlikely equaliser in their 3-2 defeat by Arsenal.
Playing predominantly as a centre forward this season, Son has still managed to chip in nine assists, more than he has in each of the last two seasons.
Son Heung-Min scored his 16th Premier League goal of the season in Tottenham's 3-2 defeat by Arsenal
Lautaro Martínez - 25
Martínez's awful spot-kick in Inter Milan's Champions League penalty shootout defeat by Atletico Madrid likely sealed his image in the eyes of English football fans beyond doubt. It is a shame.
In Serie A, the 26-year-old has been unstoppable, leading a team that have been a cut above the opposition to a historic 20th title. Martínez leads the battle for the Capocannoniere - if you can even call it that. He has 23 goals, seven more than his nearest challenger, as well as two assists.
Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martínez has scored 23 goals for Simone Inzaghi's dominant Serie A winners
Deniz Undav - 26
It has been quite the season for Brighton outcast Deniz Undav, who has been a key factor in Stuttgart's remarkable year. The 27-year-old brushed off the disappointment of his second successive season-long loan to register 26 Bundesliga goal contributions.
Undav's 18 goals and nine assists also earned him a maiden cap for Germany and he is in with a shout of representing his nation when they host the European Championships this summer.
Brighton loanee Deniz Undav has enjoyed a stunning season with Stuttgart, which has earned him a maiden Germany cap
Serhou Guirassy - 26
The other reason Stuttgart have gone from a relegation-threatened to Champions League-qualifying outfit is Serhou Guirassy. With 25 goals in 25 games, the 28-year-old is the only player in Germany with a goals-per-game record that coomes anywhere close to Harry Kane.
Though, Guirassy is very much an out-and-out goal scorer and it's on account of his solitary assist that he finds himself so low down this list.
Serhou Guirassy (right) is the second-highest scorer in the Bundesliga this season with 25
Mohamed Salah - 26
Even in a disappointing campaign, Salah remains among the European elite. Before he
