Mohamed Salah’s new deal and why Liverpool might need a bigger throne

Short of Everton being docked 20 points and their new Bramley Moore Dock sinking to the bottom of the Mersey without trace overnight, it’s difficult to imagine any news putting more of a spring in the step of Liverpool fans than the announcement that Mohamed Salah’s new contract until 2027. The Egyptian is one of three Liverpool stalwarts who were due to become free agents at the end of this season but is almost certainly the one whose replica shirt fans were least likely to set fire to in performative Instachat videos. While the nitty-gritty of the 32-year-old’s new deal have not been disclosed, he has not taken a pay cut from his basic £350,000 weekly stipend, although it is believed he earns nearer £1m per week when various side-projects such as image rights, sponsorship deals and a window-cleaning round are taken into account.

“So I’m happy to sign a new contract,” declared Liverpool’s Egyptian king, as photos of him beaming on a baroque throne placed on the pitch at Anfield were released to coincide with Friday morning’s announcement. “We have a great team now. Before also we had a great team. But I signed because I think we have a chance to win other trophies and enjoy my football. I had my best years here. I played eight years, hopefully it’s going to be 10. Enjoying my life here, enjoying my football. I had the best years in my career.” Having scored 243 goals and provided 111 assists from 394 games for Liverpool since joining in 2017, Salah’s importance cannot be overstated, although given his age, it should be noted that Liverpool are taking something of a gamble on the player’s projected future glories rather than further remunerating him for any achieved in the past.

“I’m part of the process but I don’t deserve the compliments,” said Liverpool manager Arne Slot, before going on to thank more people than an Oscar-winning actor for their effort in getting the deal over the line. “Effort mostly means money but not only money,” he added, saying the quiet part out loud. With Salah’s services secured for another two seasons and Trent Alexander-Arnold looking almost certain to, erm, “betray” fans by honouring his contract before taking a better paid job at a more prestigious firm, the focus is now on club captain Virgil van Dijk. Another thirtysomething whose recent uncharacteristic blunders have not been doing his Mr 15% any favours when it comes to talking turkey around the negotiating table, the Dutchman has made it clear he wants to stay at Anfield, but only if certain conditions are met by the club – and its props department. To paraphrase that famous quote from Jaws: “We’re going to need a bigger baroque throne.”

I’m sure they’re regretting that now. My favourite was the sparring. Initially, I started taekwondo for self-defence. That also really contributed to football, just with power, discipline and attitude. The type of training I did was absolutely brutal. I remember times when I was crying in pain, just from all the work I was doing, but it paid off” – Liverpool’s Olivia Smith tells Tom Garry about being bullied at school and how learning martial arts helped her deal with the physical demands of football.

Ange Postecoglou: from ‘I don’t usually win things in my second year, I always win things in my second year’ to ‘I’m resigned to the fact that the football Gods have got their eyes elsewhere this year – they’re obviously busy with other clubs and other managers’ in just six months. I’m trying to think of a word to describe Tottenham Hotspur being so up and down but nothing comes to mind” – Noble Francis.

If Big Sir Jim wants to make United great, he could start by manufacturing red ‘Make United Great’ hats to their fans. To save on costs – and for clarity – all he needs to do is put Make United Great’s initials on them” – Jon Harris.

If Rob Ford has supported ‘La Real’ for so many years, then he must be thrilled by the success of the Basque country teams’s former players in England such as Alexander Isak and Mikel Merino. Unless he actually supports El Madrid” – George Feldman (and 1,056 others).

Send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s letter o’ the day winner is … Noble Francis, who wins a copy of Groundhopper, by Pitch Publishing. Visit their bookshop here. Terms and conditions for our competitions can be viewed here.

This is a Salah-heavy Football Daily, make no mistake. We will stop at nothing to shoehorn any Mo-related news into this missive and think we have found our most tenuous link to date. The Egyptian got his break in European football at Basel in 2012, replacing Xherdan Shaqiri, who had just departed for Bayern Munich. And now, after a wide-ranging and largely successful career with the German giants, Internazionale, Stoke, Liverpool, Chicago Fire (with whom he had a claim to being the worst-value signing in MLS history), Big Shaq has returned home to Basel, where the 33-year-old has been on absolutely flames this season: in 27 Swiss Super League games, Shaqiri tops the division’s assist charts (by five) with 14 and is also third in the scoring charts with 11 goals. That is either an endorsement of Shaqiri’s enduring class or a sign that the Swiss Super League ain’t what is used to be. Either way, should Salah’s next two years at Liverpool go unexpectedly terribly, it’s safe to say that there will probably still be a safe landing pad for the Egyptian back at Basel in what would be a very pleasing bit of symmetry.

Leo Beenhakker, the former Real Madrid, Ajax and Netherlands manager, has died at the age of 82.

Aston Villa have begun discussions with Uefa over a financial settlement after being found in breach of the squad cost ratio rules (SCR) last season – Big Website has been told their player costs exceeded the 80% cap.

Ruben Amorim says he remains “really confident” in André Onana despite two big blunders from the Manchester United keeper in their Bigger Vase draw with Lyon last night.

Thirty-two teams? Not enough. Forty-right teams? Maybe also not enough. The president of South American soccer’s ruling body Conmebol, has proposed to expand the men’s 2030 World Cup to a whopping 64 teams.

Elsewhere Liam Kelly was the Rangers hero in Big Vase as his penalty save kept their tie with Athletic Bilbao goalless after Robin Pröpper’s red card.

In Tin Pot, Chelsea’s stroll of a 3-0 victory at Legia Warsaw was a surprise to no one, but youngsters Tyrique George and Josh Acheampong earned praise from Enzo Maresca.

And Kylian Mbappé’s legal eagles are going on the attack with multiple lawsuits to try to resolve the dispute between the forward and his former club PSG, with the Frenchman claiming there is €55m (£47.5m) outstanding over unpaid wages and bonuses. Oof!

With Liverpool and Arsenal away and clear, how is the race for the Premier League’s other three Champions League spots shaping up? Find out with our snazzy explainer.

“Parasitical” ticket resellers are squeezing loyal fans out of games, as clubs prioritise merch-hungry one-off match attendees over season-ticket holders. Simon Burnton reports.

André Onana has to improve or face being swept away in Amorim reshuffle, writes Will Unwin.

Truro City: history beckons for the former nomads, as they bid to become the first Cornwall club to reach the fifth tier. Ben Fisher has more.

New weekend, 10 more things to look out for in England’s top tier.

And Saints, Neymar, the Women’s FA Cup and curiously sponsor-less shirts all feature in our sports quiz of the week.

24 July 2013: It’s Mo Salah in action for Basel a few weeks after his 21st birthday. Yep, he looks young alright.