Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has told his former club in no uncertain terms what he will have to do to replace Mohamed Salah.
The Egyptian superstar formally announced on Tuesday night that he would be leaving Anfield at the end of the season, shocking the football world and bringing an end to one of the most prolific eras in the club’s history.
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As the post-Salah era approaches, speculation has begun as to who could replace the world-class winger.
However, Gerrard believes there is no room to sign a project or “potential player”.
Speaking to TNT Sports, the former Reds captain insisted the hole left by Salah will remain unfilled unless Liverpool secure a true global superstar.
Gerrard: Liverpool need to sign a top-three winger
Gerrard’s assessment of the situation is frank. For him, his successor will have to carry the same “showtime” weight that Salah has carried since 2017.
“If you don’t buy a box-office player, you can’t replace him,” Gerrard said.
“To replace Mo Salah, they have to be a top-end, top-three or four-winger in the world, because that’s what Mo has done.”
For Gerrard, Liverpool’s immediate priority must be an established world-class talent who can deliver elite results from day one.
Salah’s world-class numbers highlight an impossible task
The fears surrounding Salah’s departure are rooted in hard, hard data. Since arriving on Merseyside, Salah has maintained a level of consistency rarely seen in the Premier League.
With well over 200 goals and a trophy cabinet featuring every major honour, he has remained the main engine of Liverpool’s attack for nearly a decade.
Replacing a player who contributes more than 30 goals each season is a difficult challenge both financially and from a scouting standpoint.
Gerrard’s warning serves as a reminder that good intentions alone will not be enough to sustain Liverpool’s title-challenging ambitions.
To maintain their position at the top of European football, the Reds’ top brass must be prepared to make big-money acquisitions of talent that matches Salah’s ‘box-office’ DNA.
