The transfer window finally sprung into life on the red side of Merseyside as Liverpool smashed their transfer record to sign winger Mohamed Salah from Roma.
Salah was one of Jurgen Klopp’s top summer targets and it is easy to see why. He has blistering pace, a tireless work-rate, electric feet and a strong vision and reading of the game.
But the question is where does Salah fit into the Liverpool line-up next season?
At £39m it is clear Salah has not arrived at Anfield to be merely a back-up and provide depth – he’s is a starter.
Salah is a similar player to Sadio Mane, and for the first time in years Liverpool will have pace and creativity on both flanks and as part of a three-pronged attack.
The center of that attack is Brazilian forward Roberto Firmino, who has taken on the role of the Anfield no 9. Klopp loves Firmino for the way he sets the pressing level from the front and brings his team-mates into play.
Playing behind them will the reds talisman Philippe Coutinho, who will sit in that pocket between the midfield and attackers, pulling the strings as he did so emphatically during certain games last season.
The quartet of Salah-Firmino-Mane-Coutinho will get Liverpool fans excited, but my one worry is lack of a proven goslscorer.
Salah and Mane will cause defences havoc when Liverpool play away from home, and that speed can be used to devastating effect on the counter-attack.
But that was not Liverpool’s problem last season. It was trying to break down teams who come to Anfield and park the bus. Where clear-cut chances are at a premium and when they come, you need a clinical finisher in the box. I am not sure that person is Firmino.
For Liverpool to build on last season’s fourth place finish and get out of the group stages in the Champions League, they need to do a better job of beating the weaker teams they face, especially at home.
Salah’s pace will help with that. But hopefully he is not the only striker that Klopp signs this summer.
What do you think of the signing of Mohamed Salah?
