Mo Salah has not looked himself of late. A spat with Jurgen Klopp, time running out on his contract and a reduction in his production have all cast doubt on his future at Liverpool.

But just when Reds fans were ready to countenance their talisman’s departure, reports surfaced which claimed the club expect him to remain for at least another year.

The revamped Anfield hierarchy’s reluctance points to the reality of replacing a player who has scored 210 goals in 346 games for the club since arriving in 2016.

Salah’s numbers may have reduced in recent games – he has failed to find the net in his last four league outings. But earlier this season he became the first player in Liverpool history to net 20 goals in seven consecutive campaigns.

Additionally, goals are only part of the picture for Salah. He regularly sits towards the top of the assist charts and has again chipped in with his fair share of created chances. With this in mind, Mail Sport takes a look at how the Egyptian King’s goal contributions compare to his peer in Europe’s top-five leagues.

Son Heung-Min – 25

The Tottenham captain gave himself an outside chance of winning his second Premier League Golden Boot with a penalty in Sunday’s thrilling north London derby. The South Korean’s 16th league goal of the campaign sparked hope of an unlikely equaliser in their 3-2 defeat by Arsenal.

Playing predominantly as a centre forward this season, Son has still managed to chip in nine assists, more than he has in each of the last two seasons.

Lautaro Martínez – 25

Martínez’s awful spot-kick in Inter Milan’s Champions League penalty shootout defeat by Atletico Madrid likely sealed his image in the eyes of English football fans beyond doubt. It is a shame.

In Serie A, the 26-year-old has been unstoppable, leading a team that have been a cut above the opposition to a historic 20th title. Martínez leads the battle for the Capocannoniere – if you can even call it that. He has 23 goals, seven more than his nearest challenger, as well as two assists.

Deniz Undav – 26

It has been quite the season for Brighton outcast Deniz Undav, who has been a key factor in Stuttgart’s remarkable year. The 27-year-old brushed off the disappointment of his second successive season-long loan to register 26 Bundesliga goal contributions.

Undav’s 18 goals and nine assists also earned him a maiden cap for Germany and he is in with a shout of representing his nation when they host the European Championships this summer.

Serhou Guirassy – 26

The other reason Stuttgart have gone from a relegation-threatened to Champions League-qualifying outfit is Serhou Guirassy. With 25 goals in 25 games, the 28-year-old is the only player in Germany with a goals-per-game record that coomes anywhere close to Harry Kane.

Though, Guirassy is very much an out-and-out goal scorer and it’s on account of his solitary assist that he finds himself so low down this list.

Mohamed Salah – 26

Even in a disappointing campaign, Salah remains among the European elite. Before he suffered an injury while at AFCON with Egypt, the forward has registered 14 goals and eight assists in 20 Premier League games.

Unfortunately for the Reds, that blistering form has been absent from his performances in the second half of the campaign. Still, with 17 goals and nine assists, Salah remains among the league leaders in both metrics.

Erling Haaland – 26

Haaland’s 2023/24 showing is a similar case to Salah’s. In a vacuum, his numbers remain superb but added context of his debut campaign has brought criticism of his all round game.

This term, the 23-year-old has 21 goals and five assists in 27 Premier League games. He is in the driving seat to win back-to-back Golden Boots and he has netted in each of his last three outings. Not bad going for a disappointing season.

Cole Palmer – 29

Cole ‘Cold’ Palmer is in with a chance of sweeping the major individual honours at the end of the season, having enjoyed a quite stunning maiden year at Stamford Bridge.

The 21-year-old has scored 20 goals and registered nine assists for a Chelsea team that sits ninth in the league. Ninth. These are truly ridiculous numbers for a young wide forward, who has also managed to force his way into the England reckoning this term.

Lois Openda – 31

You’d forgive Guirassy and Lois Openda for feeling aggrieved to have the goalscoring machine that is Kane in their division. Without him, the two would be battling it out for the top scorer award in the final few weeks of the seasons.

As it stands, Openda has found the net 24 times for RB Leipzig, including his side’s first in a 4-1 win over Borussia Dortmund last weekend, which all but sealed their Champions League qualification. The Belgian has also contributed with seven assists for Marco Rose’s side.

Ollie Watkins – 31

The England international’s production this season has been nothing short of incredible. Under Unai Emery, Watkins has become a well-rounded elite striker.

Time will tell whether he can replicate this form in future seasons but for now, with 19 goals and 12 assists, he sits in a class of the continents best attackers. Watkins leads the Premier League in assists and is only two off Haaland’s mark for goals. The last player to top both was Salah in 2022.

Kylian Mbappe – 33

PSG fans will be left with the fondest of memories when the French superstar signs off this summer, on the pitch at least. Mbappe is closing in on his six-straight Ligue 1 Golden Boot, with 26 goals in 28 outings this season.

In addition to his precision in front of goal, the 25-year-old has laid on seven assists for his team-mates, who are on the cusp of another top-flight crown. Luis Enrique’s side are also in with a chance of claiming an elusive Champions League win.

Mbappe’s eight goals in 10 European games don’t contribute to this tally but they indicate just how terrific he has been again this season.

Harry Kane – 43

The England captain unsurprisingly tops the list and it’s not even close. 35 Bundesliga goals and eight assists in only 35 games for the Bayern Munich.

Kane grabbed a brace in Thomas Tuchel’s side’s 2-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend to tease the fading possibility of catching Robert Lewandowski’s single-season record.

Year after year, the Polish striker inched closer to Gerd Muller’s hallowed 1972 mark of 40 before beating it by one goal in 2021. Just three years later, Kane is within sight with three games left to play.