Sarr’s Liverpool Dream Stalls Amid Injury Concerns

Sarr’s Liverpool dream has stalled. His Crystal Palace career has too.

The winger has not played a minute under new boss Pierre Sage, officially sidelined by a groin problem and training on his own. Around Selhurst Park, the feeling is of a talent stuck between an injury room and a transfer that never came.

Is he now simply clinging to the hope that January brings a lifeline?

Morrison: “Handle it differently”

Former Palace striker Clinton Morrison, speaking to GOAL on behalf of Freebets.com, admits even he is baffled by how the saga has unfolded.

“I don't know what's going on because I just thought he genuinely did have an injury,” he said. “And I think the manager has come out and said he's got an injury. He's training individually. He's not ready to train with the squad.”

The failed summer move to Liverpool hangs over everything.

“I get it. Liverpool come in for you, you want to move. But go about it the right way because eventually you will get the move. That's what I've always said to people,” Morrison said.

Right now, Palace insist Sarr is injured. Morrison is inclined to believe them.

“At the moment, Palace say he's injured. So I believe what Palace say because I know people there. He's injured. He's training individually. So we'll wait and see.”

The suspicion from some fans is that Sarr’s absence is more about disappointment than fitness. Morrison understands the frustration but points to others in the dressing room.

“If people are thinking he's not training because he wanted to get his move - yeah, he's disappointed he didn't get his move. But Marc Guehi, loads of times he didn't get his move. [Eberechi] Eze didn't get his move. Eventually, you'll get your move. Handle the situation differently.”

He stresses that Palace are not a club that block ambition, but they will protect themselves.

“I know one thing, the chairman will let you have that move for sure. But because you come in so late with the bid, the chairman can't afford the top goalscorer to leave the football club and leave the club hanging on by a thread to stay in the Premier League. They've got to look after themselves.”

Liverpool’s options stack up

Time is not on Sarr’s side. While he recovers and waits, Liverpool keep building.

They pushed hard for Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh, tabling a £65 million offer that was rejected. Their need for a right-sided attacker is no secret, but they have already moved in other areas.

Over the summer they brought in £123 million Champions League winner Bradley Barcola and highly rated Spaniard Victor Munoz. They kept Cody Gakpo and want to give real minutes to 18-year-old Rio Ngumoha.

With that level of competition, Sarr’s window could narrow quickly.

Morrison knows Liverpool’s profile and the pull it has, yet his advice to the winger is blunt.

“I know they want a right-sided player. And their number one was Minteh. And Brighton knocked them back. They offered £65 million,” he said.

“I know Sarr wants that move there - I get it, it's Liverpool Football Club. Everyone will want to go to Liverpool. But the move's not happened now. And the best thing to do is get your head down, get fit and play a big part in Palace doing well this season.”

For Morrison, the route to Anfield starts in south London, not in the treatment room.

“So if someone wants to move to Liverpool, he can't just sit there and wait because Liverpool might go, ‘well, we're going to get [Yankuba] Minteh’, who is a younger player. His move to Liverpool might not happen. What he should do is get back fit for Palace, score goals and then prove to people. And then in January, if everything's all right, he might get that move.”

Mateta row adds to Selhurst noise

Sarr is not the only Palace forward making headlines for the wrong reasons.

Jean-Philippe Mateta, the powerful France international who almost joined AC Milan in January, has claimed that the 12‑month extension triggered in his contract is invalid. It is an extraordinary stance from a player who finished last season as a key figure.

Morrison, who knows Mateta well, cannot get his head around it.

“I don't get that with JP. And I know him really well. So it's a strange one. I feel like he's being badly advised. It’s as simple as that, he's a good person. I've got a lot of time for JP. And I feel like he's getting badly advised.”

Mateta is currently injured, but Morrison expects a familiar response once he is back.

“One thing with JP is he's injured at the moment. He should be back in a week or a couple of weeks. When he's back, he'll give his all for that club,” he said.

Last season is his reference point.

“As you saw last season, when there was a lot of noise, he'd be leaving, could have gone to AC Milan. Obviously, it didn't happen with the medical. Came back, scored the goal in the Europa Conference League final.”

Palace need them – and they know it

Between Sarr’s stalled move and Mateta’s contract dispute, the patience of Palace fans is being tested. Two forwards, two sagas, one anxious fanbase.

“So obviously, there's two players that Palace fans are probably frustrated with at the moment - Sarr and Mateta,” Morrison admitted. “But I still think they are two players that will have a big impact for the club when they come back.”

For Palace, survival and progress in the Premier League may depend on whether those two decide to write their next chapter in SE25 or somewhere far beyond it.