Olise tipped as perfect Salah successor for Liverpool
Salah legacy forces long-term thinking
On the Beyond The Kop Podcast, Lewis Aspinall began with a reminder of Mohamed Salah’s staggering contribution to Liverpool. “Mohamed Salah is one of the greatest players in Premier League history, breaking record after record, winning trophy after trophy during his time at Liverpool, racking up 405 appearances for the Reds, scoring 246 goals in the process, as well as racking up 111 assists.” His point was simple: Salah is irreplaceable in terms of legacy, but the clock is ticking.
Aspinall explained that Salah’s two-year extension “does buy us extra time to look at who will replace that right-wing mantle when Mohamed Salah eventually departs Liverpool.” That search has narrowed onto one name: Michael Olise.
Why Olise stands out
Aspinall highlighted why the Bayern Munich winger is seen as the heir apparent. “Michael Olise has established himself as one of the best attacking wingers in Europe, racking up 24 goals and 23 assists in 59 appearances for the Bavarian title winning side.” Liverpool’s need for a successor is not about a stop-gap, but about long-term continuity.
His style also contrasts sharply with Salah. Aspinall noted, “Michael is just as important in chance creation and buildup phase of attack as he is in the final product in front of goal.” He also pointed out that Olise attempts “5.82 take-ons per match with a success rate of 47.7%,” numbers that outstrip Salah’s peak dribbling seasons.
Olise’s pressing game is another factor. “He registered 15 high regains by December of 2024… having someone who can put this pressure on defenders and win the ball back high up the pitch with the amount of attacking players we’ve got would help us to no end.”
Tactical fit under Slot
Aspinall linked Olise’s attributes to Arne Slot’s Liverpool system. He described how Olise can “burst into space in the centre of the box with his penetrating carries, producing 4.28 per 90 minutes last campaign, which is in the top 1% of wingers in the Bundesliga.” For Slot’s preference of wide players who can cut back for central runners, this is a near-perfect profile.
There was also an illustration of his Champions League pedigree. “This passage of play demonstrates Olise’s 1v1 talent on the ball and crucially his talent and ability to create chances for himself against the settled back line… the time between him picking up the ball in the centre of the pitch and scoring the goal is 5 seconds.”
Liverpool’s decision ahead
Financially, a deal will not be simple. Aspinall warned that “any deal with Bayern would be difficult to do given the fact that they have to meet that £70 million mark.” Yet he stressed that Liverpool “were proactive, not reactive, and we’ve shown that we’ve got money to work with.”
The conclusion of the podcast was emphatic: “Michael Olise, 23 years old, title winning experience at Bayern Munich, one of the best attackers in Europe last season, brilliant during his spell at Crystal Palace, would be the ideal replacement. If Bayern looking to sell, Liverpool need to be there or thereabouts.”
Salah’s era is still ongoing, but Beyond The Kop’s analysis makes clear that Liverpool cannot afford to hesitate. Olise may be the most convincing successor yet discussed.
