Liverpool’s Salah not on Messi’s level yet, but he’s getting there
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Not many players have enjoyed a better debut season for a new club than Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.
Since signing from AS Roma in the summer the Egyptian has plundered 28 goals in the Premier League and contributed a further nine assists. Add in Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup appearances and that rises to an incredible 36 goals in 41 matches.
Jurgen Klopp’s men have scored 111 goals in all competitions so far this season. Salah has been involved in 42% of those strikes, either by scoring himself or providing an assist.
The 25-year-old is now the overwhelming favourite to win the Golden Boot.
He looks set to break the Premier League record for goals in a single season, too. That record is jointly held by Andy Cole and Alan Shearer, who bagged 34 times in an extended 42-game season.
In fact, at his current rate, Salah could well become the highest goalscorer in a top-flight season since Ron Davies during the 1966-67 campaign for Southampton. The Saints striker netted 37 goals that year. Liverpool’s goal-den boy needs nine goals in seven games to equal his tally.
His record on a European-level is also highly impressive. The 5ft 9in forward is six points ahead of Lionel Messi in the race for the European Golden Shoe award.
Those stats are all well and good. But it’s the way that Salah goes about his play that makes him so eye-catching to watch. The ex-Chelsea man is almost impossible to dispossess when he’s in possession of the football.
The striker’s accuracy and ability to score all types of goals is virtually unparalleled in the Premier League at the moment.
His low centre of gravity allows him to ghost past players like they’re not there. Defenders know what the Egyptian is going to do when he receives the ball. But they’re unable to stop it.
Only a select number of elite players are capable of such feats. Arjen Robben is one. Lionel Messi is another. And now you can add Liverpool’s Salah to that list.
The Anfield star has rightfully been compared to the latter of those two in recent weeks. The pair share a similar style of play and are talismanic in their qualities as forward players.
No-one is saying that Salah is on the Barcelona genius’ level just yet. But if he maintains his current level of impressive form, then it won’t be long until the 25-year-old is dining at the top table in world football alongside the Argentina ace.
You can back the Egyptian to be Top Scorer at the 2018 World Cup at 40/1. Meanwhile, Liverpool are 5/2 to win the Premier League without Manchester City.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
