Jamie Carragher's Mohamed Salah transfer theory debunked to leave Liverpool fans anxious

Mohamed Salah’s timing is usually perfect. He knew exactly when to deliver comments on his contract situation for maximum effect.

The Egyptian spoke to Sky Sports following Liverpool’s 3-0 win over Manchester United , a match in which he delivered a goal and two assists. “As you know it's my last year in the club,” he said . "I just want to enjoy it and not think about it. I feel I'm free to play football and we'll see what will happen next year.”

Following the interview, former Red turned pundit Jamie Carragher was on hand to offer his analysis of the situation. One theory he posited as to why Salah might stay with Liverpool might not stand up to the strongest scrutiny.

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“I think Mo Salah is obsessed, a little bit like [Cristiano] Ronaldo , in scoring records, appearances records, longevity in the game” he said on Sky . “I think for most of us,” Carragher continued, referencing his fellow ex-players on the panel, “you think when you get to 35 [years old], you’re sort of done in football.”

“I think the way that lad [Salah] looks after himself, I think he’s probably looking at maybe playing until he’s 40, or certainly late thirties. I don’t think a Saudi situation, if you like, is on the cards next season for Mo Salah."

"He’s too good a player. He’s playing in the best league in the world, he’s playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world."

"I think, whether it’s this season or another two seasons down the line, he’s alongside Kenny Dalglish and Steven Gerrard in terms of the top players to ever play for Liverpool, and possibly one of the best wingers if not the best wide player we’ve seen in this league,” Carragher concluded.

But while Salah might be motivated by goals and appearances as Carragher claims, achieving club records for either with Liverpool is out of reach. When the Egyptian makes his next Premier League appearance, he will still only be half way to Carra’s final tally of 508 games in the competition. He certainly isn’t catching Ian Callaghan’s remarkable 857 matches in total either.

Salah is already Liverpool’s top goal scorer in the Premier League, though he needs another 22 assists to overtake Gerrard on that statistic. The former Roma man stands fifth in the Reds’ all-time goal scorer chart, on 214 goals.

He should catch Billy Liddell, on 228, this season and maybe Gordon Hodgson (241) if he has a spectacular campaign. Top scorer Ian Rush is 132 goals off in the distance though. At his current rate of goals per game, it will take Salah another 217 appearances to reach the same level. Carragher might be right about the forward’s motivations but that is one record which will surely remain out of reach.