Alan Shearer believes without Mohamed Salah Liverpool would not have secured Champions League football for next season.
A 2-0 win against Crystal Palace on Sunday saw Liverpool secure third in the final Premier League standings.
At one stage, that appeared extremely unlikely for Jurgen Klopp's side, but a fine sequence of results, accompanied by Leicester City's downturn in form, saw the tide change.
Salah scored five goals and claimed two assists in his side’s last nine league games of the season to help get them over the line.
The Egypt international finished the campaign with 31 goals and six assists, including 22 in the Premier League, and was named in Shearer’s Team of the Season.
“Without him, Liverpool wouldn’t have enjoyed such a strong end to the season,” the former Newcastle United forward said when making his selections.
“His goals have been more important in a campaign when others have struggled to finish.”
But Shearer’s comments come just days after David James claimed Liverpool should look to cash in on Salah this summer as they play better without him.
The forward has been sensational for the Reds since his move to Anfield from Roma in 2017, scoring 125 goals and registering 47 assists in 203 games.
But James believes now is the best time to sell Salah, claiming Liverpool's balance up front would be better without him.
“The idea of them spending mega millions is very unlikely, I think they're going to have to shift players out,” he told Stadium Astro.
“In my eyes, he might be second in the Golden Boot running, but I think Liverpool play better without Salah.
“And the opportunity for Liverpool to cash in on Salah, Jota naturally fits into that front three, Firmino gets more freedom arguably, and Liverpool have a new dynamic up front rather than what seems to be a reliance on Salah's goals.”
Before James added: “Yeah, I'd do it now. This is not about Mo Salah not being a good player – his goal record speaks for itself.
“Similar statistics to someone like Aguero where Pep Guardiola can look at Man City and not need Aguero.
“I think Jurgen Klopp and the way he has developed this side, Salah has become more of a focal point than that front three from seasons before.
“I think Liverpool's fluidity is compromised by Salah, even though he scored. Tottenham's another one, top goalscorers tend to not win leagues. I think they could cash in on him [Salah] and produce a stronger team.”
