Liverpool news: Mohamed Salah ‘won’t be happy’ as Arne Slot gets £100million message

A round-up of Liverpool news as Wayne Rooney discusses the dynamic between Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak, while Michael Owen heaps praise on Ryan Gravenberch

Liverpool were able to revel in their Merseyside derby victory for most of the weekend after recording a 2-1 win over Everton on Saturday. Goals from Ryan Gravenberch and Hugo Ekitike ensured the Reds continued their perfect start to the season and secured bragging rights until the next derby day.

Arne Slot’s side were made to work for the three points, though, after Idrissa Gueye pulled a goal back at Anfield and Jack Grealish attempted to help Everton find an equaliser. However, Liverpool were able to avoid late twists and maintain their 100 per cent record, even after their hard-fought win against Atletico Madrid in midweek.

The reigning Premier League champions are clear at the top of the table, despite manager Slot still working on getting the best out of some of his summer signings. Alexander Isak made his league debut for the Reds as a second-half substitute and the £125million striker will hope to soon establish himself as a starter.

Wayne Rooney has argued that Mohamed Salah may take issue with the attention paid to Isak following his record-breaking move from Newcastle United. Meanwhile, former Reds striker Michael Owen has insisted that midfielder Ryan Gravenberch has tripled his value since working under Slot.

The Reds will hope to extend their winning streak when they face Southampton in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday. Here, Mirror Football brings a round-up of Liverpool headlines.

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Wayne Rooney makes Mohamed Salah claim

Rooney has insisted that Salah will not be happy that his status as Liverpool’s talisman could be threatened by Alexander Isak’s arrival on Merseyside. The 33-year-old scored a remarkable 29 league goals as Liverpool claimed the Premier League title last season and has recorded six goal contributions in as many games this season.

However, former Manchester United and Everton striker Rooney believes Salah may take issue with Isak attempting to become Liverpool’s new star player. The Swedish striker scored 27 goals for Newcastle in all competitions last term, convincing the Reds to pay a British record £125m for him.

“Even though Salah has been the best player at Liverpool for years, he won’t be happy that Isak has come in and is getting the attention,” Rooney told BBC Radio 5 Live. “It’s a matter of personal pride; he will want to be the best.

“When we (Manchester United) signed [Carlos] Tevez, there were lots of reports saying they were concerned that we couldn’t play together. But as soon as we signed players, I used to think, ‘There’s no way he is coming in to take my place.’ So that naturally gives you a lift.”

Turning his attention back to the situation at Anfield, Rooney added: “Liverpool will have a plan there for Isak. I can imagine that they will have an idea to get him in the team in two or three weeks’ time, and then it’s on him to keep his place. He will have known that he would not be playing today.”

Michael Owen declares Ryan Gravenberch worth £100m

Gravenberch enjoyed a day to remember against Everton. The Dutchman opened the scoring with an impressive finish before supplying the assist for Ekitike to double Liverpool’s lead before half-time.

The 23-year-old was signed from Bayern Munich for £34m on deadline day in 2023. After being a rotational player during his debut season, Gravenberch proved indispensable to Slot’s team last term, starting all but one game during the Reds’ title charge. Highlighting how much Gravenberch has flourished at Liverpool, Owen suggested he is now worth around triple his original transfer fee.

“I mean, Bayern Munich, they must be scratching their heads, thinking ‘Wow, why have we let him go,’ because he could be anything,” Owen said while working as a pundit, as per Liverpool.com. “If he were playing for another team now, everybody would be after him as a new number sitting midfield player, thinking £100million plus.”

Given the last-minute nature of his transfer to Liverpool two years ago, Gravenberch could have feasibly missed out on a move to Anfield. However, Owen has lavished praise on how Gravenberch solved Liverpool’s problem position at the base of midfield.

“He is seriously talented,” Owen continued. “He can do anything. I love him in the sitting number six role. It just shows you can push him forward, and he can still have a big influence.

“I look around the world at the moment at midfield players and I think, ‘Who is better than him? Who is performing better than him?’ I don’t see many at all. I think, he is one of the finds of the last season or so.”

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