Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has said that Liverpool cannot afford to sell Mohamed Salah just months after selling Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona for £142m. Carragher, however, has mentioned that Liverpool may have to live with the fact that Salah might leave in the near future if the clubs like Barcelona and Real Madrid come calling.

Salah has been Liverpool’s indispensable figure since his summer move from AS Roma. Despite not being a pure No. 9, he has become the second player to score 20 goals in the Premier League this season, while has notched up 28 in all competitions. He took his Premier League tally to 21 goals when he scored that brilliant brace against Tottenham in an eccentric 2-2 draw at Anfield.

His prolific displays have already seen him get linked with Real Madrid and although these are just the rumours, Egyptian FA president Hany Abou-Rida recently claimed that the Galacticos would make an offer for Salah in the upcoming summer.

Salah, who was named as the African Player of the Year for 2017 ahead of his teammate Sadio Mane Arsenal’s newest acquisition Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, has netted 20 goals in just 25 games in the Premier League; the fewest appearances for any Liverpool player to reach 20 goals in the competition.

Expressing his concern over the Egyptian’s future at Anfield, Jamie Carragher has said that Liverpool cannot really afford to let Salah leave, that too just months after allowing Coutinho to depart for Barcelona.

“Well, fingers crossed [Salah stays with Liverpool]. He’s only just arrived so we want to enjoy him for as long as we can,” Carragher told talkSPORT. 

“There’s no doubt when you are a player that good, it’s not just Liverpool’s problem – it’s any club’s problem if Real Madrid or Barcelona ever come for one of your players.

“Let’s not forget [Cristiano] Ronaldo when he was possibly the best player in the world left Manchester United; he left when Manchester United were still playing European Cup finals. It’s very difficult, and in some ways you have to sort of just accept it and try and get the biggest fee you can possibly get – as Liverpool did with Coutinho.

“I’d expect Salah to be at the club for the next few years. The contract that he signed and the position Liverpool are in with Coutinho just going, they can’t afford to let another big name player go.”

Carra is absolutely right. We simply cannot lose Salah as he’s the stepping stone we need in order to win the league title once again. Given the way things are at the club right now, I expect our stars to stay at Anfield as the project seems quite exciting under Klopp.