As Liverpool announced the £37 million arrival of Mohamed Salah from Roma, Jurgen Klopp would have been rubbing his hands together with glee at the transformative effect the club’s new record signing could have. He brings much-needed goal threat, exhilarating pace, defence-busting penetration – so obviously missed whenever Sadio Mane has been absent – and a desperation to prove a point after being disposed of prematurely by Chelsea.

Not so long ago, failing at Stamford Bridge and being dubbed a flop would have warded off potential suitors, but now it has become a badge of honour. Kevin De Bruyne has emerged as one of Europe’s leading playmakers since being offloaded, while Romelu Lukaku netted 87 goals in four years at Everton. Salah has, likewise, been electric in Italy since departing after making just 13 league appearances, but real vindication required a return to the Premier League stage.

After joining from Basel in January 2014, Salah never really settled at Chelsea (Picture: Getty)
After joining from Basel in January 2014, Salah never really settled at Chelsea (Picture: Getty)
But he has thrived in Serie A, registering 15 goals and 11 assists last season (Picture: Getty)
But he has thrived in Serie A, registering 15 goals and 11 assists last season (Picture: Getty)

His move to Roma, and particularly his education under Luciano Spalletti, has turned Salah into exactly the type of player Liverpool need. He has scored more league goals (29) in his two seasons in Rome than in the rest of his career combined (28). Admittedly Serie A has become Europe’s most free-scoring league recently, overthrowing the stereotype of defensive football, but Salah has nevertheless added an extra layer of composure and a clinical edge to his game.

Not just a pure push-and-run pace merchant – though his speed is virtually unparalleled – there is nuance and finesse to the way he plays and an awareness of others drilled into him by Spalletti. His passing accuracy stands at an economical 80.4 per cent, while his ability to tune into the same wavelength as his team-mates is a major asset; across Europe’s top five leagues, Ousmane Dembele to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was the only combination more prolific than Salah to Edin Dzeko.

Another key reason for Klopp’s desire to bring the 25-year-old to Anfield is his improved defensive work. He is an ideal fit for the German’s Gegenpressing, bringing energy and snap to the press, while Spalletti has drilled into him the work ethic Jose Mourinho thought he was getting when he signed him from Basel.

When Palermo were crushed back in February 2016, the Italian made a point of playing footage of Salah’s 70-yard sprint back into his own box to stop a rare attack. Even though the match was already won, the winger’s effort never diminished.

Salah has become a ruthless operator in the final third (Pictures: Getty / Twitter / @mixedknuts)

But perhaps the most interesting dynamic of Salah’s arrival is how it will enable Philippe Coutinho to play in the deeper role trialled at the tail-end if last season, which gave Liverpool considerably more attacking intent. Previously opponents were able to shut down the Reds’ offence by stopping the supply into Coutinho, but against West Ham and Middlesbrough it was the Brazilian who started every move.

In those two games, Klopp played quite a narrow 4-3-1-2 with Adam Lallana in the hole and Coutinho further back. He excelled on both occasions. Against the Hammers he had six shots and scored twice, while he also created seven chances, though only one was converted. He followed that up with an equally majestic display against Boro, attempting 107 passes and getting on the score sheet again as he found himself with far more time than he is usually afforded.

Klopp after Coutinho's West Ham masterclass

‘I can’t remember when I said this but it was always clear Phil can play this [position], there’s no doubt. If he starts on the wing, he is very often in this position. He was never a winger, he’s always kind of a playmaker. It’s not interesting where he’s coming from it’s all [about] where he needs to be at one point. He needs to be in the decisive area in the middle of the park, he needs to be in shooting situations and all that stuff. That’s what he did today – obviously he felt really well in this position and that was a good game.’

He showed an ability to dictate tempo from deep while also exploiting the pockets of space higher up the pitch where he is so destructive normally. His goal threat was not diminished in any way – arguably it was enhanced, arriving untracked in the hole – while he was relatively tenacious and snappy when required to be. Exactly like his manager had hoped.

‘Phil plays at the moment like a kind of a wing 10, but he can also play as a No 8,’ Klopp explained. ‘That is possible and maybe he will have more influence and we can involve another player on the wing. That would make us stronger for sure, having his creativity in the middle of the park. He would have to adapt to that. He is young, full of talent and I’m pretty sure he thinks he is in the right place.’

When false No.9 Firmino drops deep, Mane and Salah can run in behind and chase through-balls

Understandably, the defensive side of Coutinho’s game still needs developing – he need only look to teammate and compatriot Lucas Leiva for an example of how to do that, who transitioned from an attacking box-to-box midfielder to out-and-out enforcer after leaving Gremio – but if there is a noticeable improvement, it could even allow Coutinho to play as one of the two deeper midfielders.

Coutinho looked totally at home in a deeper midfield role at the end of the season (Picture: Getty)
Firmino has needed more movement in behind, which Salah will provide plenty of (Picture: Getty)
Firmino has needed more movement in behind, which Salah will provide plenty of (Picture: Getty)

It might seem like one of Garth Crooks’ barmier line-ups, but the potential to use Coutinho in such a manner against sides whose only intention is to put 10 men behind the ball – sides who Liverpool have notoriously struggled against in recent seasons – could be a real asset for Klopp, and not unusual in the Premier League. Arsenal are at their most fluid with Santi Cazorla sitting, while Christian Eriksen and Kevin de Bruyne have both been deployed alongside just one sitting midfielder.

But that dilemma, should Klopp even consider it, is only possible because of Salah. He is capable of both providing width and coming inside, freeing up Coutinho to sit deeper. In tandem with Mane and probable false No.9 Roberto Firmino, he gives Liverpool the option to use a fluid, interchanging attack full of pace, invention and – importantly – goals. Even at £37m, he could prove to be a snip.

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