Ex-Liverpool star dreaming of World Cup spot after being denied by Mohamed Salah
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Dominic Solanke left Liverpool for Bournemouth in 2019 after struggling for game time alongside Mohamed Salah and is now eyeing a place in England's 2026 World Cup squadDominic Solanke (left) failed to get ahead of Mohamed Salah in the pecking order at Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has few peers regarding the influence he wielded at Anfield.Bearing this in mind, a lack of playing time alongside the Egyptian shouldn't be a decisive factor when evaluating other former Reds' abilities. The striker arrived in the same transfer window as Salah following his development at Chelsea, but would ultimately feature in merely 27 Liverpool matches before departing for Bournemouth in January 2019.As Salah prepares to conclude his Liverpool career at the conclusion of this season, it's evident that it would have required an exceptionally gifted player to compete in the same squad.READ MORE: Jamie Carragher 'changed mind' on Mohamed Salah after two things he failed to doREAD MORE: What Liverpool's two new summer signings mean for Arne Slot's current squadSolanke perhaps wasn't at that standard as a youngster — he remained a teenager when he relocated to Merseyside — but has subsequently proved he possesses considerable quality at the highest level."It feels amazing and everyone has made me feel welcome already," Solanke remarked upon signing for the Reds in July 2017, the same month Salah completed his move from Roma.
Following his initial competitive appearance as a substitute against Hoffenheim in a Champions League qualifier, he secured his maiden Premier League minutes in a 1-0 triumph over Crystal Palace.Salah has become one of Liverpool's greatest ever players(Image: Getty Images)Regrettably for Solanke, there was no immediate route to consistent first-team action. While Salah may not have been the player who directly hindered Solanke's opportunities, he persuaded Klopp to stick with a favored three-pronged attack that was inevitably going to make it difficult for the youngster to establish a pattern of regular football.Initially, Solanke's performances at Bournemouth suggested that Liverpool had done excellent business securing £19 million ($25 million) for him.
His goals in Europe, including one in each leg of the semifinal, were instrumental in Spurs clinching the Europa League and reclaiming their place at football's top table — only for injury to sideline him for the opening six league phase fixtures in the Champions League.Solanke is yet to surpass 1,000 minutes on the pitch this season following ankle surgery, yet he has found the net in each of his three Champions League outings.He also delivered a memorable brace in a 2-2 draw with Manchester City and earned his first-ever England start against Uruguay, more than eight years after picking up his initial international minutes while on Liverpool's books.His next ambition is to secure a berth in England's World Cup squad. Should he grasp his opportunity on Tuesday, Solanke will demonstrate just how far he has come since those formative days at Liverpool.