Salah legacy forces long-term thinking

On the Beyond The Kop Podcast, Lewis Aspinall began with a reminder of Mohamed Salah’s staggering contribution to Liverpool. “Mohamed Salah is one of the greatest players in Premier League history, breaking record after record, winning trophy after trophy during his time at Liverpool, racking up 405 appearances for the Reds, scoring 246 goals in the process, as well as racking up 111 assists.” His point was simple: Salah is irreplaceable in terms of legacy, but the clock is ticking.

Photo @LFC on X

Aspinall explained that Salah’s two-year extension “does buy us extra time to look at who will replace that right-wing mantle when Mohamed Salah eventually departs Liverpool.” That search has narrowed onto one name: Michael Olise.

Why Olise stands out

Aspinall highlighted why the Bayern Munich winger is seen as the heir apparent. “Michael Olise has established himself as one of the best attacking wingers in Europe, racking up 24 goals and 23 assists in 59 appearances for the Bavarian title winning side.” Liverpool’s need for a successor is not about a stop-gap, but about long-term continuity.

Photo IMAGO

His style also contrasts sharply with Salah. Aspinall noted, “Michael is just as important in chance creation and buildup phase of attack as he is in the final product in front of goal.” He also pointed out that Olise attempts “5.82 take-ons per match with a success rate of 47.7%,” numbers that outstrip Salah’s peak dribbling seasons.

Olise’s pressing game is another factor. “He registered 15 high regains by December of 2024… having someone who can put this pressure on defenders and win the ball back high up the pitch with the amount of attacking players we’ve got would help us to no end.”

Tactical fit under Slot

Aspinall linked Olise’s attributes to Arne Slot’s Liverpool system. He described how Olise can “burst into space in the centre of the box with his penetrating carries, producing 4.28 per 90 minutes last campaign, which is in the top 1% of wingers in the Bundesliga.” For Slot’s preference of wide players who can cut back for central runners, this is a near-perfect profile.

Photo IMAGO

There was also an illustration of his Champions League pedigree. “This passage of play demonstrates Olise’s 1v1 talent on the ball and crucially his talent and ability to create chances for himself against the settled back line… the time between him picking up the ball in the centre of the pitch and scoring the goal is 5 seconds.”

Liverpool’s decision ahead

Financially, a deal will not be simple. Aspinall warned that “any deal with Bayern would be difficult to do given the fact that they have to meet that £70 million mark.” Yet he stressed that Liverpool “were proactive, not reactive, and we’ve shown that we’ve got money to work with.”

The conclusion of the podcast was emphatic: “Michael Olise, 23 years old, title winning experience at Bayern Munich, one of the best attackers in Europe last season, brilliant during his spell at Crystal Palace, would be the ideal replacement. If Bayern looking to sell, Liverpool need to be there or thereabouts.”

Salah’s era is still ongoing, but Beyond The Kop’s analysis makes clear that Liverpool cannot afford to hesitate. Olise may be the most convincing successor yet discussed.

Adblock test (Why?)

Summer spending reshaped squad

Liverpool’s summer transfer business, totalling £440m in incomings with a net spend of around £220m, demonstrated both ambition and financial control. The British transfer record for a single player was broken twice, and yet the club’s executives ensured that high-value departures offset the outlay. As reported by The Times, it was a window that addressed numerous areas of the squad and laid the foundation for the coming years.

Photo: IMAGO

One area, however, was left short of a resolution. The collapse of Marc Guehi’s proposed move from Crystal Palace, despite the completion of a medical, was one of the few blemishes. “Liverpool would only now sign the Crystal Palace centre-back on a free transfer next summer,” wrote Paul Joyce, emphasising the clarity of the club’s plan.

Guehi pursuit postponed

Speculation quickly grew that Liverpool might return with a reduced offer in January, particularly as Guehi moves closer to the end of his current contract. That scenario has now been dismissed. Instead, the strategy is to wait until the summer of 2026, when a pre-contract agreement can be secured.

The decision is financially logical. A free transfer avoids further significant expenditure in what has already been a record-breaking period. Yet it comes with risk. Real Madrid and other major European clubs are expected to explore Guehi’s availability. “Allowing the player to go on a free and trusting that he will remain loyal and still choose Liverpool 12 months later is a particularly bold strategy,” Joyce noted.

Photo: IMAGO Balancing squad for the season

Arne Slot must now proceed with the centre-back options at his disposal. Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez and Giovanni Leoni form the quartet available for the campaign ahead. While depth may appear thin, Liverpool’s medical department has proven adept at managing workloads. Rotations will be required, particularly in a season where domestic and European fixtures accumulate.

Photo IMAGO

The failure to add Guehi highlights the fine margins of transfer strategy. Liverpool strengthened extensively in other areas, but central defence remains a position that could face scrutiny should injuries arise. For now, the trust is in existing resources and a carefully calibrated plan to add when the conditions suit.

Long-term vision of FSG

This decision also reflects FSG’s broader philosophy. Spending is significant, but always balanced. Investments in infrastructure, recruitment staff and youth pathways underpin the approach. Pursuing Guehi only on a free is consistent with that philosophy. It reduces exposure to inflated mid-season valuations and maintains fiscal discipline, even after a summer of major investment.

Patience, in this case, is the gamble. If Guehi does choose Liverpool in 2026, the club secures a homegrown defender in his prime without paying a transfer fee. If not, it will be remembered as an opportunity missed. For now, the calculation is that Liverpool’s plan is the most sustainable path forward.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

FSG and Richard Hughes are showing patience and confidence in their model. Waiting for Marc Guehi on a free demonstrates the kind of restraint that has served the club well in the past.

Yet, for fans, the anxiety lies in the here and now. This season promises to be intense, with challenges on multiple fronts, and one more quality centre-back could have provided greater security. Supporters remember too well the injury crisis of 2021, when Liverpool’s title defence crumbled under the weight of absences in defence. The fear of history repeating itself lingers.

The optimism comes from faith in Arne Slot’s ability to rotate wisely and in the medical team’s capacity to manage workloads. Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate are among the best centre-backs in the division, and Joe Gomez has shown versatility when needed. Young Giovanni Leoni’s inclusion also points to a willingness to trust emerging talent.

The frustration, however, is the knowledge that Guehi was so close. A completed medical usually means a deal is inevitable, but football negotiations are rarely straightforward. The hope is that the player’s admiration for Liverpool will keep the move alive, even amid interest from Real Madrid and others.

From a supporter’s standpoint, the faith in long-term planning is admirable, but the short-term gamble could be costly. Fans will back the team and trust the process, but they will also look nervously at every defensive lapse, wondering if Guehi could have made the difference this season.

Adblock test (Why?)

Shifting relationship with ownership

Liverpool’s connection with Fenway Sports Group has been complicated since the American group took control in 2010. For much of their tenure, suspicion and scepticism lingered. Ticketing rows, cautious spending and, most controversially, the attempt to join the European Super League, created tension. Yet over the last five years, the dynamic has altered. The infrastructure projects, the strategic appointments and the continued competitiveness on the pitch have reshaped perceptions.

“FSG aren’t planning on selling anytime soon and if we’re honest, we wouldn’t want it any other way.” That sentiment, once unthinkable among sections of the fanbase, increasingly resonates.

Building foundations for stability

The evidence is visible across the club’s landscape. Anfield has been carefully redeveloped, with stands expanded to push capacity towards 60,000, while retaining the historic essence of the ground. The AXA Training Centre represents elite planning, integrating everything from cutting-edge rehabilitation to expansive outdoor pitches. Melwood, reallocated for the women’s side, has received new investment, while the Academy is set for a £20m renovation to further refine talent pathways.

Photo: IMAGO

The list of honours since FSG’s arrival demonstrates consistent return: Premier League titles, a Champions League crown, domestic cups, international trophies. Under both Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot, Liverpool have maintained their position at the top table. Crucially, this has been achieved without reckless spending. Net spend has remained modest compared with rivals. Michael Edwards’ recruitment framework produced targeted acquisitions that delivered success without destabilising finances.

Comparing models across rivals

Criticism of FSG has often been framed in the context of the Premier League’s wider ownership models. Manchester City’s dominance sits alongside ongoing investigations into alleged breaches of financial rules. Tottenham continue to reshape following Daniel Levy’s reduced influence. Arsenal’s ownership has invested but faces questions over underwhelming sales and recruitment inefficiencies. Chelsea’s ClearLake consortium has spent more than £1.5bn since arriving, but a coherent footballing plan is still hard to define. Manchester United remain in turmoil, split between the Glazers and Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS, a structure marred by financial and sporting disarray.

Within this landscape, Liverpool’s steadiness under FSG appears increasingly rare. Mistakes have been made, but the balance of prudence and progress is evident. The club are competitive without breaching limits, ambitious without financial recklessness.

Preparing for the next phase

The focus now turns to how Liverpool use this stability. With Arne Slot delivering immediate results in his first season, the squad featuring a core of young talent, and long-term investments in facilities secured, FSG’s plan points towards sustained control at the top level. The concern when Klopp departed was whether Liverpool could maintain their upward trajectory. Early signs suggest that foundations laid by FSG may allow for a dynasty rather than a short-lived cycle.

Photo: @LFC on X

“The manager has delivered success in the first 12 months of his tenure, he’s been backed like no other Red regime has been before and the squad is littered with young talented players delivering performances that are at an extremely competitive level with the best teams in the world.”

That assessment captures the optimism. Liverpool are in a strong position, not simply for the present, but for a future shaped by strategic decisions rather than short-term fixes.

Of course, football changes quickly. Form fluctuates, rivals regroup and unexpected challenges emerge. Yet as it stands, Liverpool’s ownership model appears among the most coherent in the Premier League. If the trajectory holds, FSG’s plan could underpin a period of genuine dominance, not just fleeting success.

Adblock test (Why?)