Mohamed Salah IS Liverpool’s greatest ever player in the Premier League era – not Steven Gerrard – claims Mail Sport’s Chris Sutton on It’s All Kicking Off… and believes only one player in the top-flight’s history is more ruthless
- Mohamed Salah has played 227 of a possible 237 Premier League fixtures
- The Egyptian was on the scoresheet twice in a 2-0 Merseyside derby win
- Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’
Mail Sport columnist Chris Sutton claims that it is difficult to argue against Mohamed Salah being Liverpool’s greatest ever Premier League era – perhaps even surpassing legendary captain Steven Gerrard.
Salah was once again on the scoresheet for Liverpool on Saturday, rescuing a late 2-0 win for the Reds from the jaws of a 0-0 draw at Anfield in the Merseyside derby.
With Ashley Young sent off for a second yellow card earlier in the game, the Toffees looked likely to come away with a hugely creditable point until the 75th minute.
However, after a Michael Keane handball handed Salah a golden opportunity from the spot, the Egyptian made it 15 consecutive games he had either scored or assisted in, tapping in a second in added time.
As such, it was no surprise that after rescuing his side once again the topic of whether Salah might be the best ever Reds star in the Premier League era, with Mail Sport’s Liverpool specialist Dom King appearing on Its All Kicking Off.
Mohamed Salah was on target twice against Everton prompting debate over whether he is the best ever player in the Premier League for Liverpool
Chris Sutton claimed that he was better than Steven Gerrard by virtue of listing the Premier League title
Salah decisively dispatched his penalty to give Liverpool the lead against a stubborn Everton side down to ten men
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‘Steven Gerrard is the one that – the fact that we’re even having this debate shows what Salah has done in seven years… Steven carried the club for years. Salah since he’s come in I just think he’s just been extraordinary,’ King began.
‘His durability – there’s been 237 Premier League games since he arrived, and he’s played in 227 of them. Then there’s the goals – he’s scored 194.’
‘The comparison with Steven Gerrard, who never won the Premier League, the great player that he was. I think it would be very difficult to argue that Mo Salah in the Premier League era isn’t Liverpool’s greatest ever player.’
Since joining the Reds in 2017, Salah has gone on to win every single club trophy available, as well as three different Golden Boot awards, including in his debut season when he netted 32 times.
After returning to the Premier League from Roma – leaving the English top-flight back in 2016 after successive loans – he has quickly established himself as one of the leading right wingers in the world.
But for King, Salah’s status is greater still, and should be appreciated as a ‘true great’ of the English game – and should be regarded perhaps as highly as Cristiano Ronaldo.
‘I don’t think people recognise we’re actually watching a true great, a genuine world class player,’ he said. ‘I don’t think he gets spoken about the way Ronaldo would have done when he was here.’
‘Salah didn’t have his best day on Saturday but he still scored. You turn up at Anfield and you just expect him to score. The influence that has on the team, the comfort it gives them, when someone’s right at the peak.’
Steven Gerrard is arguably the greatest ever captain at Liverpool but never won the Premier League
Sutton added that the only player more ruthless than the Egyptian in the Premier League era is Erling Haaland
‘You’re absolutely right, he has taken Liverpool to another level,’ agreed Sutton.
‘The number of games he’s played, the goals he’s scored season after season – he is so reliable. Standing in the tunnel next to players like Shearer, like Larsson, you just know that when the opportunity comes along these players have that reliability.’
Yet Sutton claimed that there was only one player that might have a better ruthless streak in front of goal in the history of the Premier League.
‘It’s more than reliability, it’s ruthlessness, and Salah is every bit as ruthless as any player the Premier League has ever seen, maybe not Haaland though!’
IT’S ALL KICKING OFF!
It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football.
It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify.
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