Jurgen Klopp’s tenure as Liverpool boss is going out with a whimper rather than a bang. A 2-2 draw with West Ham United on Saturday ended the Reds’ Premier League title hopes and, in all likelihood, condemned them to a third-place finish.
The result at the London Stadium was overshadowed by the touchline spat involving Klopp and Mohamed Salah, who was once again left out of the starting XI. The manager tried to play the row down after the match, but Salah did not get the message. “There’s going to be fire if I speak,” he told journalists in the mixed zone.
Salah has been a magnificent player for Liverpool over the last seven years, but his form has been poor since the Africa Cup of Nations. Injuries have not helped and the Egypt international has still scored six goals following the tournament in Ivory Coast, yet his all-round performances have been below par.
Last summer, Liverpool rejected an eye-watering £200m offer offer for Salah from Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia’s Pro League. Given he turns 32 in June and will have less than a year left on his contract by the start of next season, there is a decent chance that Salah will follow Klopp through the exit door this summer, even if it has been suggested otherwise.
To whom should Liverpool turn to replace him? It will not be easy to find a fitting successor. Notwithstanding his recent downturn, Salah has been remarkably consistent throughout his time on Merseyside. He has scored 210 goals in 346 matches, and has never notched fewer than 23 in a season. Without Salah, it is impossible to imagine Liverpool being as successful as they have been under Klopp.
One possible replacement was on the pitch when Liverpool’s title hopes were extinguished on Saturday. Jarrod Bowen opened the scoring with a header from a Mohammed Kudus delivery, then sent in a delicious cross of his own for Michail Antonio’s second-half equaliser. He was WhoScored’s player of the match with a rating of 8.43.
Bowen has enjoyed a fantastic campaign, scoring 16 goals and providing six assists in the Premier League. Cole Palmer is the only player outside the top five who has had a direct hand in more goals than the West Ham man.
Bowen spent a large chunk of the season playing through the middle, where his speed in behind caused problems for numerous defences. He does his best work from the right, though, cutting inside onto his stronger left foot and taking shots at goal. In 15 top-flight appearances in that position, Bowen has scored eight goals and set up four more.
Dig a little deeper and Bowen’s finishing ability stands out. He has overperformed his xG by 4.78 this term – that is, he has scored almost five more goals than he ‘should’ have done based on the quality of the chances. Only Phil Foden and Son Heung-min have better records.
Liverpool have been linked with the former Hull City forward in the past. Intrigiuingly, Klopp described Bowen as his “favourite player besides my players” in December.
Of course, the German’s opinion is no longer relevant. Arne Slot will take over the Anfield hot seat in the summer and he will have his own transfer targets. Responsibility for recruitment lies with Michael Edwards and his team, however, so a move for Bowen is hardly out of the question.
The fact the 27-year-old has a contract at West Ham until 2030 complicates matters, although reports suggest the deal he signed earlier this season contains a buyout clause.
Liverpool have found their successor to Klopp and, regardless of whether he stays or goes this summer, they now need to start planning for life after Salah. After struggling to contain him on Saturday, the Reds could do far worse than Bowen.
