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Steve Nicol has chosen which star player Liverpool should let go in the summer if necessary.
Former Liverpool defender Steve Nicol has stated the more dispensable option between Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk.
Both players have played a dominant role in the Reds’ ascent to challenging domestically and on the continent under Jurgen Klopp, who departs at the end of the current season.
The Egyptian has typically been there or thereabouts atop the goalscoring charts, claiming three Golden Boots in a debut season at the club in 2017-18 (32 goals), 2018-19 (22) and 2021-22 (23). Meanwhile, Van Dijk’s presence at the back has aided Liverpool’s adeptness at playing a high defensive line, and the 2018-19 PFA Players’ Player of the Year has recovered from a severe knee injury in October 2020 to regain his position as arguably the league’s first-rate centre-backs.
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What Nicol said about Salah and Van Dijk
Both players’ current deals run out in the summer of 2025, and many have opined that Liverpool could let either Salah, 31, or Van Dijk, 32, depart as they enter the final year of their contracts.
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“If you get the offer (for Salah), you take it,” said Nicol on ESPN. “And one of the reasons I’m saying that is not only because you look at the big picture. But let’s not forget when Mo Salah was away at AFCON, Liverpool coped fine. Liverpool scored goals and won games. They’ve still got other players who can score goals.
“If there was going to be one player that I’d suggest that you resign, as much as I love Salah, I would suggest Virgil van Dijk. I think Van Dijk would be a bigger loss. I don’t know how you replace him.”
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What comes next for Salah, Van Dijk and Liverpool?
Klopp should include both players from the off in Liverpool’s trip to Manchester United on Sunday, with the Reds keen to hold onto first spot in the Premier League table.
The Reds return to Europa League action next Thursday when Atalanta visit Anfield in the first leg of the last-eight tie, which precedes Crystal Palace's trip to Merseyside on April 14.
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