Michael Owen: Liverpool will have to do ‘little bit of surgery’ after Salah departure

Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen warns that the club faces a critical summer of “surgery,” with the  departures of Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson forcing a significant squad reconstruction under manager Arne Slot.

The veteran duo is set to leave Anfield at the end of the current campaign, leaving the club with the daunting task of replacing Salah’s production on the right flank. Speaking to talkSPORT, Owen identified the search for a new right-sided attacker as the “first port called,” noting that the current squad lacks a natural successor in that specific role.

Despite a clear need for reinforcements at right-back, central midfield, and in attack, Owen questioned the club’s remaining budget following a £450 million outlay last summer.

“I doubt they have any left to spend again,” Owen stated, suggesting that while the club recouped approximately £260 million in sales last year, another massive spending spree may be unsustainable.

The uncertainty extends to the goalkeeping department. Reports in Italy suggest Alisson Becker has already agreed to personal terms with Juventus, while midfielder Curtis Jones remains a target for Inter Milan. Former Italy international Antonio Cassano praised Jones as a “Champions League-oriented player” who would be an “excellent signing” for the Serie A champions.

On the pitch, Liverpool are currently grappling with a growing injury list. Alexander Isak (groin), Alisson (hamstring), and Mohamed Salah (hamstring) were all absent from training on Wednesday.

While Salah remains confident he will return for the season finale against Brentford, Alisson’s recovery timeline remains unclear after he failed to appear in recent club training photographs. Defender Ibrahima Konaté was also a notable absentee on Wednesday for undisclosed reasons.