On Monday night it was another game for Mohamed Salah and yet another landmark. The Liverpool man scored his 150th Premier League goal.
It’s an achievement which distinguishes Salah among the top attackers to have ever played in the league, while also highlighting how important he has been for Liverpool over the last few years.
Not just for his goals but the way he has revolutionised how wingers are expected to play in Jurgen Klopp’s system. Before his arrival, Liverpool played narrow football, and didn’t stretch the opposition nearly as much as when Salah arrived.
He brought threat in the final third, inverting into the middle and allowing Liverpool’s full-backs and midfielders to occupy the wide-channels, while he almost functioned as a second forward.
Over the years Salah has made this role his own and has put him in the realm of icons like Thierry Henry.
Pundit likens Mohamed Salah to Henry
Former Jamaican international, Robbie Earle, has been speaking about Salah in glowing terms recently on the 2 Robbies Podcast on NBC Sports.
Speaking about Salah, Earle compared him to Arsenal legend Henry and former Manchester United cult favourite, Eric Cantona.
“Where I think the appreciation comes from is, it’s a big statement but I would say that Mo Salah in the manner of possibly a Thierry Henry, maybe an Eric Cantona, has redesigned the wide play in a top six team,” he said.
“If you play wide in a Premier League team, you have to be delivering almost double figure goals.
“This fella delivers 20+ almost guaranteed plus his assists, he’s got 14 goals, he’s got eight Premier League assists.
“So, not only does he score and assist, he’s changed the role for a right-sided winger to the goalscorer that wins you titles.”
Salah’s numbers speaks for themselves. This season he is once again in the race for the golden boot in the Premier League and on top of that he’s also provided the most assists alongside Ollie Watkins.
In a league of his own
“I’m thinking of anybody else in Premier League history who’s redefined a role, Trent might become it one day, Thierry Henry’s up there, Eric Cantona’s up there, maybe Dennis Bergkamp,” Earle added.
“We’re starting to talk about that level of appreciation for what this guy does on a regular basis, he misses a penalty in this game, doesn’t bother him, goes on and scores, he’s a threat, looks for his teammate, looks happy.
“I just think, you know with this guy there’s should be another level, he’s a difference maker.”
The NBC pundit is right to highlight Salah’s uniqueness. He is in a league of his own, even in world football right now. Which is why, Liverpool must broach the subject of a potential departure very carefully.
Salah was the subject of interest from Saudi Arabia last summer. But he’s shown this season he is still able to set new heights, and Liverpool are far better off keeping him for as long as possible then selling him right now.
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