Mohamed Salah: The Premier League’s Most Unstoppable Force
“That’s what world class looks like, they turn up in the biggest moments, and he’s done that here at City today.” The words of Gary Neville on Sky Sports.
Mohamed Salah is the talk of the town. Jamie Carragher reckons he’s the best since Thierry Henry. He’s being compared to Lionel Messi. And yes, it is time to talk about him as a Premier League and all-time great.
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He’s proved himself worthy of greater comparisons and a different narrative. Eden Hazard used to be a prime competitor in the typically farcical online debates of our age and Arsenal supporters perhaps cite Dennis Bergkamp. Maybe I’m a new-aged post-teenager who doesn’t understand the value of aesthetics, silky turns, mazy runs, stepovers and magic freekicks, but the fact is that he transcends these names.
Hazard lacked the longevity. His goals probably last longer in the memory, but the Belgian only went past a 15 goal campaign twice. Of course, Bergkamp was a specialist creator and managed nine more assists. He also made 25 more PL appearances and scored 95 league goals less.
He’s up there with Thierry Henry, Wayne Rooney, Alan Shearer and Cristiano Ronaldo. And he surpasses the latter. Ronaldo only scored 20 goals once in seven full seasons with Manchester United before he fell out with Erik ten Hag, while the king has scored 20 goals in five of his eight seasons with Liverpool.
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He’s on course to pass 30 for a second time, which would be once more than the Portuguese. Granted Ronaldo was a total winger in his first spell, compared to the more fluid role the maestro plays. But his performance on Sunday proved he is undoubtedly a wide player.
His role in the second goal was a classic exhibition of the Egyptian’s qualities. Old age vibes with his run and control down the right, before he unveiled his impressive strength to hold off Joško Gvardiol. Then came the pass; perfectly judged, perfectly weighted to find Dominik Szoboszlai, who finished off a wonderful move.
He doesn’t run with the fluidity or grace of some of the aforementioned forward players and is perhaps more Lamborghini Gallardo than Ferrari F430. His movement is jagged, unpredictable and direct. His shot dainty and sweeping. But the method doesn’t matter.
This season, the Egyptian has 25 goals and 16 assists, his 41 goal contributions just six less than those of Alan Shearer and Andy Cole, who both managed 47 in a 42-game season. It’s likely that he’ll surpass the record for assists in a PL season, with the current record, 20, being held jointly by Henry and Kevin De Bruye. If the season ended tomorrow, it would still be in the realm of the greatest in history stats-wise.
His career numbers in the league continue to stagger. His 182 league goals are bettered by just five others and at a rate of 130 minutes per goal, only Harry Kane, Henry and Sergio Aguero were more efficient.
And in 392 appearances for Liverpool, he has scored 243. Only Roger Hunt (285) and Ian Rush (346) have scored more. Luis Suarez is the only player with over 60 goals for the Reds who can match his goals-per-game ratio of 0.62.
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The numbers are uncharted, but it’s the big game knack which gives him such star quality. Liverpool had the opportunity to take the title away from Arsenal after the Gunner’s defeat to West Ham. It was him who ultimately delivered and made the difference.
It’s difficult to think of a player more important to a team in world football right now. He’s Slot’s golden advantage, Liverpool’s greatest asset. He’s Mohamed Salah.
By: Nilesh Singh / @Nilesh35Singh
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Visionhaus – Getty Images