11 May 2021 10:41:45
Thinking about how we might look to refresh or change the team this summer, there has been talk about Salah, Mane and Firmino getting older or past their peak, whether in terms of their performance or their transfer value.

I think 28 or 29 is no age at all for a top level footballer these days. Increasingly I think we will see the top players continue to perform at the highest level well into their mid 30s. Cavani was a good signing for Utd at 34 years old and has now got another year. Elsewhere, Ronaldo, Messi, Suarez, Modric, Ramos and Ibrahimovic have all continued to perform at a very high level into their mid or late 30s.

I think a player like Salah could definitely do the same. Whether he wants to stay at Liverpool is another question, but I could see him continue to score 20+ goals a season for us for another four or five years. And I think van Dijk could easily play at this level into his mid-30s, assuming a full recovery from his injury.

11 May 2021 12:30:44
I think the concern people had on here is that only the performance of Salah has been justified this season. From what I have read, people are mainly calling for Mane and/ or Firmino to be moved on, something I agree with. There is also their contracts, someone may correct me on this, but I believe all three are nearing the final year of their contracts. I think everyone is in agreement that Firmino should be moved on at some point and Mane, well if he is kept until his 30's, his value drops drastically and for a club like ours, we cannot afford to let them happen if we want decent replacements at some point.

{Ed002's Note - None will be in the final year of their contracts next season.}

11 May 2021 13:19:56
I agree with you RR, I think the real issue is you can't have too many of them. The players last that long because they tend to be smarter, they now run less. They are smarter and more economical with their movement, of all the players you mentioned there they're all pretty static, Suarez who was a machine closing down has adjusted his game.

Ed001 regularly talks about the issues with Messi and Barcelona and how the rest of the team has to do the running for him now to accommodate and that creates problems against the absolute top teams. There are exceptions to the rule like Milner, but even he has seen his game time halve over the last 2 years.

11 May 2021 15:46:04
Their contracts end in 2023. One year before Klopp's ends in 2024.

11 May 2021 16:31:02
I think Mane is going to come back with a big bang next season. Salah - assuming we keep him - will get his usual 20+ goals for the season. Firmino, I'm not quite so sure but I think Jota will be first choice, so Firmino as one of the back up options isn't a bad situation.

I think Salah, Jota and Mane will be red-hot next season.

11 May 2021 16:33:53
Who would realistically buy them if they were literally at the end of their shelf lives. The scientific procedures and readings in modern day sports is world class. Players are fitter than ever and can play at the highest level for far longer. I honestly believe our front 3 have a few more years in them yet at the highest level be it with us or someone else. But why would say a Barcelona buy Mane if he's on the decline and almost written off.