Former Watford striker Troy Deeney has claimed Liverpool star Mohamed Salah is not world-class.
Salah is a Reds legend having scored 221 goals, and assisting a further 99, in 366 matches since joining the club in 2017.
The winger, who has lifted the Premier League and the Champions League with Liverpool, has extended his exceptional form into this season, striking 10 times in just 17 appearances in all competitions for Arne Slot‘s resurgent side.
However, Deeney is not convinced Salah is one of the best players in the world as, in his eyes, he doesn’t fulfil one criterion.
‘I think Mohamed Salah is excellent, he’s a pivotal part for Liverpool and they should never have let it [his expiring contract] get to this situation,’ Deeney told talkSPORT.
‘But I understand that there’s a financial structure around what they want to try and keep to.
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Mohamed Salah is a Reds legend having scored 221 goals, and assisting 99, in 366 matches
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Former striker Troy Deeney is not convinced the Egyptian forward is a world class player
‘My argument has always been that I just don’t think he’s world-class.
‘But world-class is just a different opinion, what I think of world-class is would I want my kids to play like that player? That’s what I think is world-class.
‘If I was asking my kids who want to be forwards, I would be saying I would like them to look at what Vinicius Jr does as opposed to Mohamed Salah.
‘But his goals that he [Salah] scores, he scores an unbelievable amount of goals, he’s highly effective, but that’s just my opinion.
‘He’s probably going to turn around and say, ‘Who the f*** is Troy?,’ and fair play to him, but that’s my opinion.’
Only Ian Rush (339) and Roger Hunt (263) have scored more goals for Liverpool than Salah in the club’s 132-year history.
Salah has scored 163 Premier League goals for the Reds, having netted another two while playing for Chelsea in the 2013-14 campaign.
The 32-year-old moved up to ninth on the all-time list of the Premier League’s leading scorers when he netted the opening goal in Liverpool’s 2-1 win over his former club at Anfield last month.
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Deeney says he would want his kids to watch Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr over Salah
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Salah, 32, has scored 10 times in 17 appearances in all competitions so far this season
There are fears Salah will not be at Liverpool next season, with his contract set to expire in the summer.
Speaking about the forward’s future earlier this month, Reds boss Arne Slot told TNT Sorts: ‘The only thing I think about is he is so important for us. Scores important goals, works hard for the team.
‘I’m hoping he can enjoy that feeling many, many, many more times. Especially if I’m here but also if I’m not here. I’m hoping he can do this many more times.
‘He’s been incredible for Liverpool over the past eight years. He’s been incredible for us this season and I hope he can continue doing this for the rest of the season and maybe longer to come, but that’s up to him and the club to find the idea about the future.’
