Liverpool have dropped a major hint over the futures of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk in the launch of their new home kit for the 2024-25 campaign.
On Thursday morning, the Reds unveiled their new jersey inspired by the 1983-94 team, who became the first top-flight English side to win three trophies in one campaign.
The red shirt with a yellow chrome pattern and iconic collar pays homage to Joe Fagan's men, who clinched the First Division title, beat Everton in the EFL Cup final replay and bested Roma on penalties in the European Cup final.
A selection of prominent men's and women's players modelled the 2024-25 shirts for the Liverpool website, including two star names whose Anfield futures have been called into question in recent weeks.
Captain Van Dijk and key attacker Salah are both set to enter the final 12 months of their contracts this summer, but both were pictured sporting the jersey in the official pictures.
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Liverpool hint at Van Dijk, Salah stays?
Van Dijk also talked up the 2024-25 home kit to the official Liverpool website, claiming that he was a "big fan" of the "retro vibe", fuelling suggestions that he will be remaining at the club for next season.
The Netherlands international said after Jurgen Klopp's exit announcement that he was unsure whether he would be part of the new regime, before clarifying his comments and reaffirming his commitment to the club.
Bayern Munich and Saudi Arabian second-division side Al-Qadsiah are rumoured to be showing interest in Van Dijk, who has supposedly received a lucrative offer from the latter club.
However, the 32-year-old is not thought to be in any rush to leave the Reds, and the same can be said for Salah, whose presence in the kit launch has further hinted that he will be continuing in the Anfield strip next season.
As Liverpool dropped several social media posts of various players modelling the 2024-25 kit, one image showed Salah in the top, along with an emoji of the Egyptian flag and a crown, an ode to the "Egyptian king" label that Salah has been affectionately given by Reds supporters.
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Salah expected to remain at Liverpool next season
Had Salah not been pictured promoting Liverpool's 2024-25 home shirt, fears may have been raised that the former Chelsea and Roma man would have been departing at the end of the season, concerns that were heightened after his touchline row with Klopp.
Before coming off the bench in last weekend's 2-2 draw with West Ham United, Salah was not entirely receptive to Klopp's gesture of a handshake, which sparked an argument between the pair before Darwin Nunez and Joe Gomez stepped in.
Salah claimed that there would be "fire" if he spoke of the incident after the match, but Klopp insisted that the quarrel was water under the bridge when speaking to reporters in his post-game press conference.
Klopp will be vacating his seat to Arne Slot this summer anyway, and a recent report claimed that Salah is expected to stay for the 2024-25 season, as clubs in Saudi Arabia have cooled their interest.
The Egyptian's contract situation remains unsolved, though, and he could walk away from Anfield for nothing next summer if no renewal is agreed in the near future.
Ben Knapton
