Former Man City goalkeeper Joe Hart believes Mohamed Salah is simply trying 'to protect himself' by making statements about his impending contract expiration.

As things stand, Salah will be leaving Liverpool at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, with the Reds potentially set to lift the Premier League. Liverpool sits six points clear of Arsenal ahead of their game against Manchester United on Sunday and have a game in hand on the chasing pack due to the postponement of the Merseyside derby back in December.

On the pitch, things could not be going better for Liverpool. However off it, there is plenty of drama, with Salah's recent comments making headlines ahead of the visit of United to Anfield on Sunday.

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"There is no progress," Salah told Sky Sports on his expiring contract. "We are far away from any progress so we just need to wait and see."

However, ex-City goalkeeper Hart reckons Salah's behaviour is simply that of someone looking to protect themselves after having done everything right so far this season.

Hart told TNT Sports: "I've got a bit of a different view to everything that's gone on. I'm seeing a player in the last six months of his contract, we've experienced that and there's all sorts of things going on in your head - you've got to protect yourself.

"I'm seeing someone who represents his club to the max, represents his team, scores important goals, is carrying his team to an incredible season."

Hart added: "They're the facts we can deal with - everything else is speculation. He's told us they're a little bit away but that's for the people above him, and that's the business of the footballing world. The football side of things, he's taken care of and been absolutely incredible."

Liverpool.com says: "It still seems unthinkable Salah could leave Liverpool at the end of the season, but the reality is that could absolutely happen with how things look right now. There needs to be a huge breakthrough in the coming weeks otherwise it looks as though Salah will be departing Anfield come May."