Arsenal legend Robert Pires says Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has been ‘treated unfairly’ this season

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Liverpool’s brilliant start to the season has catapulted their players into the spotlight recently.

The Reds have had a number of genuine world superstars in their team throughout the Jurgen Klopp years, with a handful remaining to see in the Arne Slot era.

During Klopp’s time, players such as Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker, Sadio Mane and – perhaps most notably of all – Mohamed Salah were often up for individual awards.

Those five players have each been nominated for the Ballon d’Or in the past, with all four finishing in the top seven for the award’s 2019 edition.

That was in contrast to this year, when no Liverpool players at all were on the shortlist for world football’s most coveted individual trophy.

Salah has put that decision to shame by starting the campaign in sizzling form at Anfield. And according to former Arsenal winger Robert Pires, the Egyptian is now the best player in the Premier League.

Robert Pires unhappy at Mohamed Salah treatment

Salah became the first player in Europe’s top five leagues to hit double figures for both goals and assists with one of each against Aston Villa at the weekend.

That feat has since been matched by Egypt teammate and Liverpool target Omar Marmoush.

However, it is still a clear indication that Salah is on a different level to just about everyone in Europe right now.

And speaking to Egyptian TV channel MBC MASR 2 via The Mirror, Arsenal Invincible Pires has slammed the voting journalists for overlooking Salah in the recent Ballon d’Or polling.

READ MORE: Barcelona already face big problem in signing Mohamed Salah next summer

“Mohamed Salah is the best player in the Premier League,” raves the former winger. “He has a fantastic mentality, and his level doesn’t surprise me because he’s one of the best players in Europe and the world.

“In Egypt, you know he’s the best in the national team, but what he does with Liverpool is truly exceptional. He’s maintained his level for many years, playing different roles, scoring goals and providing assists. Salah was treated unfairly by being left out of the Ballon d’Or list.

“It’s a loss for the list, not for Salah,” adds Pires. “This isn’t the players’ fault; it’s the journalists’ mistake. Many great players, like Thierry Henry, Xavi, and Andres Iniesta, never won the award either. Salah’s absence from the Ballon d’Or final shortlist shows that some people don’t know much about football.”

Mo Salah for the Ballon d’Or in 2025?

Plenty of people will put little stock at all into who wins individual awards in football. It is a team sport after all.

However, after Trent Alexander-Arnold named winning the Ballon d’Or as his ultimate career goal, it’s clear that it does mean a lot to the players.

Salah is no different in that respect. The 32-year-old has made no secret of his desire to be recognised as the greatest player in Liverpool history and as a big name in the wider game, too.

So, having been unfairly dropped from the final list this year, Mo appears to have made it his business to reappear in 2025.

If he can carry on this form and drive Liverpool to either the Premier League or Champions League this term, then he’s absolutely got to be up there once again.

As ever, another lesser player will likely be recognised, but Salah will be number one to Liverpool fans and that has to count for something.