Liverpool legend EXPLAINS why Mohamed Salah MUST follow Cristiano Ronaldo’s EXAMPLE at Anfield

“Goals pay the rent and Keegan does his share.”

That classic commentary line, uttered by David Coleman during Liverpool’s famous 1974 FA Cup final win, rings truer than ever 50 years later.

Mohamed Salah, though, scores more like the lion’s share of goals and that is why his club cannot countenance not keeping him, according to another Anfield legend.

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The top-scoring talisman is one of three hugely influential players who could leave Liverpool at the end of this season, when their current contracts are due to expire.

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk are in the same situation and there are currently no signs of the trio being offered a fresh deal to retain them in Arne Slot’s squad.

Fans are desperately hoping all three players can be persuaded to stay, but if push came to shove and the club could only afford to keep one of them on lucrative new terms, it seems Salah would be the number one choice.

NICOL: SALAH CAN MATCH RONALDO

Liverpool legend Steve Nicol has weighed in on the debate, during a regular appearance as a pundit on ESPN.

Shunning any notion of a defenders’ union across the decades, the 1980s full-back / midfielder insisted Salah would be his pick over the rearguard talents of Alexander-Arnold and Van Dijk, for one simple reason. Goals.

“As much as what he does is fantastic, I think Liverpool would survive without Trent,” said Nicol.

“I think they would survive better without him. Virgil’s going to be a tough one to replace but if you’ve got an opportunity to sign somebody who gives you 30 goals a season, you’ve got to take the goals.

“Salah has been unbelievable for the last six seasons.”

Nicol is on the same page as his former team-mate, Graeme Souness, in seeing no issue with Salah’s age and expecting him to continue delivering the goods at the age of 32.

The ESPN pundit points to the example of Cristiano Ronaldo, who is seven years older than Mo and still banging them in for club and country.

Last night, the former Real Madrid icon became the first player in football history to score 900 career goals, when he played alongside Salah’s club colleague Diogo Jota and netted Portugal’s decisive goal in their 2-1 home win over Croatia.

The visitors reduced arrears through an own goal by Diogo Dalot, five days after he was in the United defence dismantled 3-0 by Liverpool.

“Cristiano Ronaldo is still scoring goals regardless of whether you think he does enough elsewhere. So maybe Salah does the same,” concluded Nicol.