‘He doesn’t smile’… Joe Cole says he’s unsure how happy £34m player actually is at Liverpool right now

‘He doesn’t smile’… Joe Cole says he’s unsure how happy £34m player actually is at Liverpool right now

‘He doesn’t smile’… Joe Cole says he’s unsure how happy £34m player actually is at Liverpool right now
Fri 1 December 2023 07:30
James Brooke
Joe Cole has suggested that Mohamed Salah doesn’t look totally happy at Liverpool just now.

Salah’s future has been the subject of intense scrutiny over the past few months. Having turned down a massive offer from Saudi Arabia for his services this summer, Liverpool are braced for another attempt in 2024.

For now though, the Egyptian has seemingly put the transfer speculation to the back of his mind to do what he does best: score goals. Another arrived against LASK last night – his 199th for the Reds.

But speaking to TNT Sports after the game, Cole claimed that it’s hard to know just how happy Salah is. Asked by presenter Lynsey Hipgrave if the 31-year-old looks as ‘happy as he’s ever been’ at Anfield, the former Liverpool player admitted to some doubt.

“He’s a bit of a poker player, isn’t he?” replied the pundit. “You don’t know whether he’s happy. He could score a worldie and he doesn’t smile. He keeps his cards close to his chest.

“The future, the years are passing by for him because he’s already a Liverpool great, there’s no doubt about that. I think the key situation will be does he wants to stay and really take this team? I feel there’s years ahead of him, I think he is going to be another five, six or seven years playing because of that professionalism and fitness and he doesn’t look like he’s letting up. He is still breezing past players.”

Salah giving nothing away
We think it’s a little unfair of Cole to claim that Salah doesn’t smile. In fact, although the Egyptian does have his days, he is one of the more expressive players you’ll see.

Take last night for example. He had a smile as wide as the Mersey after he buried his penalty early in the second-half.

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There have been times when Mo has favoured the more ‘moody’ celebration, but of late he’s looked happier and happier after sticking the ball in the net.

More generally though, Cole probably does have a point. Throughout the summer saga with Al Ittihad, Liverpool fans were looking to their No.11 to make some kind of public declaration of committment to the Reds. It never came.

Mo Salah
Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
In some quarters, his silence could be seen as an admission that he was interested in leaving the club for the Middle East.

In others, they perhaps saw it as the most respectful way to handle the situation for all involved.

From our point of view, there’s no reason to feel that Salah isn’t happy at Liverpool. He could easily have pushed to leave in September in the midst of a massive offer. That he didn’t says enough for us.

Whenever the £34m man has spoken publicly, it’s to declare his love for the club and happiness to keep scoring goals. There is still a feeling this may be Salah’s last season at Anfield, but if he does leave, then it surely won’t be down to a dissatisfaction with his surroundings.

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JOE COLE
MOHAMED SALAH
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