'We need' - Ian Rush makes feelings clear on Mohamed Salah's future at Liverpool

• Liverpool FC News
• Features
• Ian Rush

Mohamed Salah is one of Liverpool's greatest ever players, but he has struggled to find his best form this season and could leave the Merseyside club during the January transfer window

Ian Rush wants Mohamed Salah to stay at Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)

Ian Rush believes Liverpool needs Mohamed Salah if the Merseyside club is going to be successful this season.

Salah is enduring his most testing season at Liverpool. The 33-year-old, who has found the net 250 times for the Reds since arriving at Anfield from Roma in 2017, has scored five goals and provided four assists in his 20 appearances for Arne Slot's team this term.

While that's a decent return for most players, much more is expected of Salah. The Egyptian was handed a new contract until June 2027 after scoring 34 goals and providing 23 assists in all competitions last season, helping the Reds win the Premier League title.

Salah's future at Anfield was thrown into doubt when Slot started leaving the veteran out of his starting XI. Salah responded by accusing Liverpool of throwing him "under the bus" and claiming that he has no relationship with Slot after the 3-3 draw at Leeds.

Salah and Slot appeared to resolve their differences a week later, as the player helped his team beat Brighton in the Premier League. Salah then went off to the Africa Cup of Nations, where he's currently trying to help Egypt win the international tournament.

While Salah and Slot appear to be on better terms, there's still speculation over the player's long-term future at Anfield. The two-time Premier League winner continues to be linked with a transfer to the Saudi Pro League once the AFCON finishes in January.

Salah and Rush after Liverpool won the Premier League title last season(Image: Getty Images/Getty Images For Th)

But Rush, who is Liverpool's record scorer with a tally of 346 goals, wants Salah to stay. He told BBC Sport: "The best thing I've heard since was Curtis Jones saying Mo had apologized. It is over now.

"We need Salah if we are going to be successful in terms of winning games and trophies.

"It is good to see him scoring goals for Egypt, but now we want to have him back scoring for Liverpool."

Salah has led Egypt to the last 16 of the AFCON after scoring winning goals against Zimbabwe and South Africa. It's unclear who the Egyptians will face in the next round.

Rush is also delighted to see how well Hugo Ekitke is doing at Liverpool. The 23-year-old forward, who arrived on Merseyside from Eintracht Frankfurt during the summer, has arguably been Liverpool's best player this term, scoring 11 goals and providing two assists.

Rush added: "He has been the standout. He is a fantastic player who is quick and can play in different positions.

"Hugo Ekitike is the star so far. We need to keep him fit."

The Reds are next in action on New Year's Day, when they face Leeds at Anfield.