Salah can still play in top leagues after Liverpool exit, says Warnock

Stephen Warnock believes Mohamed Salah still has what it takes to play in the top leagues after announcing his departure from Liverpool.

It was confirmed on Tuesday that the Egyptian's nine-year stint on Merseyside would come to an end following the conclusion of the 2025-26 season.

Salah had signed a new two-year deal in April, but the club confirmed that an agreement had been reached between the two parties, with reports suggesting he will leave on a free transfer.

He joined Liverpool in 2017 from Roma and enjoyed a stellar period at Anfield in which he has won eight major trophies and made 435 appearances across all competitions, scoring 255 goals.

Since he arrived ahead of the 2017-18 season, Salah ranks first in the Premier League for goals (189), assists (92), open-play chances created (534), shots (1,104), shots on target (480), and touches in the opposition box (2,717).

Salah's next move is still unknown at this point, with his agent confirming that there was no new club lined up, though he has already been linked with a potential move to the Saudi Pro League.

But Warnock, who spent five years at Liverpool between 2002 and 2007, believes a move to a top European club could be on the cards for Salah.

"Mohamed Salah is the biggest footballer in Africa," Warnock told Stats Perform. "So, bringing someone of that level into the Saudi Pro League puts eyes on it.

"It makes it interesting. We know they've got the finances as well to be able to do that type of deal. Whether he feels that that's enough of a challenge for him or whether he wants to continue in Europe, whether he wants to try and go to the MLS, we're not sure.

"The interesting thing is, I still think he can play in the top leagues. I think he's still capable.

"I think the big thing with Mohamed Salah is over the course of his career, because of how successful he is and how good he is and how robust he is, he very rarely misses games.

"He hasn't really had a break, and you just feel given a break. What would we see from Mohamed Salah?

"Would we see a fitter, stronger Mohamed Salah, even though he is very fit and strong at the moment? But does he just need a little bit of a break, mentally and physically, just to recharge the batteries and then come back even stronger next year?

"But the one thing that you can never question about Mohamed Salah is his mentality and his desire to prove people wrong, and I'm sure leaving Liverpool Football Club, and wherever he ends up next season, he'll try and break numbers whichever football club he arrives at."

Liverpool have excelled with Salah in the squad as he has proven to be a key player for both Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot.

They have won two Premier League titles and the Champions League during his time at the club, and regularly went toe-to-toe with Manchester City in the top-flight under Klopp, but narrowly missed out on the crown.

Salah sits third in the club's all-time scoring list, behind Ian Rush (346) and Roger Hunt (285), while he is fourth in the Premier League's (191).

Meanwhile, his 189 goals and 92 assists in 310 Premier League outings for Liverpool are the most goals and assists combined by any player for a single club in the competition's history.

And while former Liverpool CEO Peter Moore believes Salah will go down in history as one of the club's all-time greats, he also expects Slot's side to adapt after he leaves.

"Liverpool will be just fine [when Salah leaves]," Moore told Stats Perform. "I'd say, look, it's a storied history club. [Mohamed Salah] is certainly in the top 10.

"But when you're talking, and my generation, and I'm a little older than the average fan, you go back all the way to Ian St. John, Roger Hunt, John Toshack, Kevin Keegan. Michael Owen, Kenny Dalglish, Ian Rush, Robbie Fowler, Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard.

"I mean, there are a lot of players who have delivered magnificently throughout their entire careers for Liverpool. Mo is up amongst all of that, and he is absolutely a legend.

"But this is not a situation where you can say he's the greatest player ever, because that's not the case."