Former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey has suggested three potential successors to Mohamed Salah, with ex-Chelsea winger Christian Pulisic among the names mentioned.

Salah, now 33, is widely expected to leave Anfield this summer after enduring his least prolific campaign in a Liverpool shirt.

The Egyptian forward had previously scored 25 or more goals in seven of his first eight seasons on Merseyside, cementing his legacy as one of the club’s all-time greats. This term, however, he has managed just seven goals, a sharp decline by his own extraordinary standards.

Speculation over his future intensified before the January window after critical remarks about the club and manager Arne Slot surfaced in an explosive interview.

Saudi Pro League clubs showed interest, but Liverpool opted to keep him for the remainder of the season. Despite that decision, a summer departure now appears increasingly likely, particularly after Salah was substituted during Sunday’s late win over Nottingham Forest, a moment some viewed as symbolic of his reduced influence.

Discussing possible replacements, Heskey admitted that directly filling Salah’s boots would be almost impossible.

“We’re talking about replacing Mohamed Salah and, as fans, you’ve got to accept you can’t truly replace him,” Heskey told OLBG. “I remember someone saying he’d had a bad season when he scored 25 goals. I’d have loved that kind of ‘bad’ season. We’re talking about 20 to nearly 30 goals a year for a decade.”

Instead, Heskey believes Liverpool may need to reshape their attack rather than search for a like-for-like successor. He highlighted Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as his preferred option, praising the PSG winger’s direct style and flair. He also pointed to Jarrod Bowen as a viable alternative, noting that while most players would represent a step down from Salah statistically, Bowen’s work rate and versatility could suit a tactical shift.

Heskey also floated Pulisic’s name, suggesting the AC Milan forward could thrive if given another chance in the Premier League.

“I quite like Christian Pulisic,” he said. “He’s very direct. He maybe didn’t score as many as I expected at Chelsea, but he caused defenders problems. After a strong World Cup and finding form in Italy, he could offer something different.

“Mo left Chelsea, went to Italy and then became a legend at Liverpool. It would be interesting to see Pulisic return and prove his Chelsea spell was just a blip. He was very young when he first arrived.”

Liverpool, who won the Premier League by ten points last season, have struggled in their title defence and now sit sixth, 16 points behind leaders Arsenal. They required an injury-time winner from Alexis Mac Allister against Nottingham Forest to keep their top-four hopes alive.

Next up is a crucial clash with West Ham as Slot’s side attempts to salvage their campaign and secure Champions League qualification.

Noni Madueke was caught on camera appearing to aim a blunt insult at Mathys Tel during Arsenal’s emphatic 4–1 win over Tottenham Hotspur in a fiery north London derby.

Arsenal went into the clash under intense scrutiny after surrendering a two-goal advantage in a 2–2 draw away at Wolves earlier in the week. That stumble had trimmed their lead at the top of the Premier League to just two points, especially after Manchester City defeated Newcastle 24 hours before kick-off.

Any doubts about their response were swiftly erased. Despite Spurs heading into the interval level — Randal Kolo Muani cancelling out Eberechi Eze’s opener — the visitors dominated large spells of the contest. A second-half double from Viktor Gyokeres, either side of Eze’s second goal shortly after the hour mark, secured a commanding victory and local bragging rights against a Tottenham side led for the first time by Igor Tudor.

The result leaves Spurs hovering just four points above the relegation zone, while Arsenal extended their cushion at the summit to five points.

With Arsenal in full control after the break, Madueke became involved in a heated moment on the touchline. After receiving a robust challenge from Tel, microphones near the pitch appeared to pick up the winger telling his opponent to “f*** off” before adding that he thought he was “s***.” Tel avoided escalating the situation, choosing not to respond as tensions simmered.

Eze once again tormented Tottenham, continuing his superb derby record following his hat-trick in the reverse fixture at the Emirates earlier this season. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised the forward’s belief and adaptability in his post-match interview.

“He had that belief and I’m really happy with him,” Arteta told BBC Sport. “He’s really trying to mold and adapt into what we want from him.”

While expressing pride in the performance, Arteta also struck a cautious tone about the title race.

“I’m really happy and proud of how we approached the game — the initiative and quality we showed to come here and win the way we did,” he said.

“But this is the Premier League. When you look back at the Wolves game, you ask how we didn’t win it. I see the players every day and I know how much they want it.

“There are ten games left. That’s a long way to go.”

Although Eze grabbed much of the spotlight, Arteta reserved special praise for Gyokeres, describing the striker’s display as his most complete yet.

“For me, that was his best performance — the most complete one, especially when we needed him most,” Arteta added. “That’s when big players and big clubs have to stand up.”

When fans picture Luis Diaz at Bayern Munich, they think of explosive pace, sharp dribbling and decisive goals. Off the pitch, however, the Colombian winger is dealing with a very different test — one written directly into his contract.

Bayern’s demanding standards do not stop at tactical discipline or physical conditioning. According to reports from Bild, Diaz is required to attend two or three German language classes each week and demonstrate clear progress in evaluations held twice a year.

Failure to meet those expectations could reportedly result in fines ranging from €5,000 to €50,000, depending on the outcome of those assessments.

From the club’s perspective, the policy is about integration. Bayern believe players who can communicate fluently adapt more quickly to the dressing room environment and team culture. For Diaz, though, it means juggling match preparation with structured classroom learning — a side of elite football rarely mentioned in highlight reels.

The winger has acknowledged that the adjustment has not been easy. Speaking to Sky Deportes, he admitted: “The hardest thing was, and still is, the language. I’m doing everything I can to repay the club’s trust with my performances on the pitch.”

Even for a player of his quality, the pressure is real. Each lesson carries weight — not just socially, but financially.

The clause also sits alongside performance-related incentives, including a reported €250,000 bonus for finishing as top scorer in either the Bundesliga or the Champions League. Together, they reflect a broader philosophy at Bayern: success is measured not only by goals and assists, but by how fully a player adapts in every aspect of professional life.