Klopp Believes Irreplaceable Salah Could Extend Career Until Age 40 Despite Liverpool Exit

Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has delivered a glowing tribute to Mohamed Salah exceptional professionalism while predicting the Egyptian superstar could continue playing at the highest level until age 40, despite the winger decision to leave Anfield at the end of the current season.

Klopp, who signed Salah from Roma in 2017 and departed Liverpool in 2024, spoke exclusively with BBC Sport before the LFC Legends charity match, emphasizing the unprecedented standards that the 33-year-old forward has maintained throughout his remarkable Merseyside career.

Salah is an incredible professional. He set completely new standards for a professional football player - how hard you can work, how much you can invest in recovery and everything, Klopp explained, highlighting the dedication that has enabled the winger to maintain elite performance levels well into his thirties.

The German tactician expressed genuine sadness about Salah departure while acknowledging the mutual benefits of their extraordinary partnership, which yielded an impressive collection of major trophies including the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, two League Cups, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup.

Now he leaves here but I would not be surprised if he plays another six or seven years. I am sad but he is an all-time great without a shadow of a doubt and I am really proud to be a part of that career, Klopp stated, demonstrating both personal affection and professional respect for his former player.

Salah statistical achievements during his Liverpool tenure have been nothing short of extraordinary, with 255 goals placing him third on the club all-time scoring list behind only legendary figures Ian Rush and Roger Hunt, a remarkable accomplishment for a player who primarily operates from wide positions.

Klopp emphasized the unprecedented nature of Salah achievements in the modern Premier League era, suggesting that his goal-scoring records from wide areas may never be matched by future generations of players operating in similar positions.

The numbers he produced and the standards he set, some of them, if not all, will stay unmatched in this modern Premier League era, definitely, because it is ridiculous to do that, and to do it for one club more or less, Klopp observed, underlining the exceptional consistency that has defined Salah career.

Despite their occasional disagreements during their working relationship, Klopp maintained that any conflicts arose from shared commitment to excellence rather than personal animosity, describing their recent text exchange as confirmation of mutual respect and understanding.

We texted the other day and we had our arguments, but it was always for the right reasons. It is always fine, especially now looking back, it is more than fine. And we are both really happy about being part of that incredible journey, Klopp revealed.

Regarding the timing of Salah departure, with one year remaining on his current contract, Klopp characterized the separation as a fair deal that benefits both parties after years of mutual success and financial reward.

I really think the whole relationship was a fair deal. An exceptional player, exceptional numbers, and he earned some money, of course. And now he can go wherever he wants and the club will have to find and will find other players, Klopp explained, demonstrating pragmatic acceptance of professional football realities.

Klopp acknowledged that replacing Salah unique combination of pace, finishing ability, and positional versatility will prove impossible, urging Liverpool to develop new tactical approaches rather than attempting to find a like-for-like replacement.

Yes, this specific kind of player is irreplaceable. That is always how it is. There will be a void that somebody will fill, Klopp stated, emphasizing the need for tactical adaptation rather than direct replacement.

Next season will mark the first time since 2016 that Liverpool begin a campaign without Salah in their squad, representing a significant transition period for a club that has built much of its recent success around the Egyptian exceptional individual contributions.

The tribute demonstrates the lasting impact that Salah has made on both his former manager and the broader Liverpool legacy, establishing him as one of the most significant signings in modern Premier League history.