Mohamed Salah clearly does not want to leave Liverpool despite recent comments made in public, according to Shaun Wright-Phillips.

The Egypt international is due to be out of contract at the end of the season and confirmed last week a new deal has yet to be offered.

Liverpool great Jamie Carragher called Salah "selfish" for speaking out on his future, but Wright-Phillips does not believe he did anything wrong.

"Personally, I think if you're doing an interview, and you're asked a question and you feel like answering it, there's nothing wrong with that," he told Stats Perform. 

"For me, this is on Liverpool. Why would you wait so long to address one of the greatest players we've seen in the Premier League? Why wouldn't you make it clear that you want him to stay?

"I think Salah is trying to nudge them into action, to let them know he's ready and waiting. He wants clarity on his future because it's open right now."

Salah assisted Cody Gakpo's opener and converted a penalty in Sunday's 2-0 win over City, meaning he has now scored and assisted in 36 different Premier League games – the joint-most by a player in the competition's history, equalling Wayne Rooney's record.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Salah again implied he expects this to be the last of his eight seasons at Anfield.

"I saw something on social media where he said something like, 'I played as if this was my last game at Anfield against Manchester City'," Wright-Phillips said.

"He's telling them they have do something about it. Clearly, he doesn't want to leave. If he did, he had the chance already, and he stayed. So, for me, he's well within his right to speak out."

Salah now has 224 goals in 369 games for Liverpool, a club-record 166 of those coming in the Premier League, while his 75 assists in the competition is the ninth most of any player for a single club.

Wright-Phillips believes Salah is only getting better with age, making it even more important a resolution is found between the player and club.

"It's hard to say 'give him what he wants' [in terms of his contract demands] because I don't know Liverpool's rules or wage structures," he said. 

"But one thing I can say is if you have a player like that, regardless of his age, the amount he runs, the end product he delivers – not just scoring goals but also creating them over the last two years – has been phenomenal.

"He's getting better and better as an all-round player. I think he's someone they 100% need to find a way to keep. Whatever they have to do, for me, they should keep him there. 

"He's up there with the greatest players Liverpool has ever had, and they've had some unbelievable players. Salah stands toe-to-toe with them and doesn't seem to be slowing down. 

"If anything, he's getting better. He hasn't lost any pace, and his hunger and desire to achieve personal and team goals at Liverpool just keep growing. I'd try my hardest to keep him."

Salah is one of three first-team stars at Liverpool due to become a free agent in six months' time, along with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk.

Van Dijk put in a Man of the Match display in the win over City, which moved Liverpool nine points clear at the Premier League summit, and Wright-Phillips says it is equally important Liverpool convince him to stay.

"I'd say 1,000%. You don't find defenders like him very often," Wright-Phillips, a Premier League title winner with Chelsea in 2005-06, said. "The elegance he plays with – you rarely see him sprint, and yet he seems to be back to his best. 

"He's perfect for the younger players, like [Jarell] Quansah, coming through. You need someone like him around the club.

"Of course, if Virgil wants to keep playing at a high level and Liverpool don't want to use him as much, then that's a different conversation. But from what I see, he's fit as a fiddle, raring to go, and focused. He wants this title this year.

"You have to keep players like that. It's what makes a club a bigger club – keeping those players who’ve been through the highs and lows with you. 

"Van Dijk has been there for everything: the battles with City, the title races, the dips, and the comebacks. Players like him bring invaluable experience and knowledge to the club. You can't replace that."