Liverpool have ‘the best player on the planet’ as Mohamed Salah declared even better than Kylian Mbappe

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Although Liverpool have already won the Premier League title, there is still plenty left to play for this season.

The Reds secured the league crown back in April, and have been left to play out their remaining four fixtures of the campaign with no pressure at all.

But having lost the first of those matches against Chelsea, Liverpool will want to bounce back when facing Arsenal this weekend.

For Mohamed Salah, the three games take on extra meaning. The Egyptian is still desperately trying to break the Premier League’s all-time assists record for a single season. He needs three more to clear Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.

Should Salah manage that feat, he may be better placed to win this year’s Ballon d’Or.

After seeing key contenders such as Lamine Yamal and Raphinha knocked out of the Champions League this week, pundit Gabriel Agbonlahor feels Salah is the only rightful winner anyway.

Mohamed Salah hailed as best in the world

Fans – particularly those of an older variety – may not place too much stock in individual awards such as the Ballon d’Or. But for the players, these things do matter.

Make no mistake, Salah will be desperate to get his hands on the most prestigious gong a player can win. And according to Agbonlahor, Liverpool’s No. 11 is still the leading candidate.

“I think the best player on the planet you have to look at the different leagues they play in,” he told TalkSPORT on Wednesday.

“If you look at Mo Salah, 33 goals, 23 assists so far this season in all competitions. Kylian Mbappe’s been in great form, 35 goals. Dembele 33, Raphinha 32. It’s difficult. But I can’t go past Salah because Salah’s done it in the toughest league in the world.”

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“He’s been outstanding in the Premier League,” adds the former England striker. “What he’s been doing to top defences in the Premier League. If you’re asking me a different question, who’s the most exciting, Lamine Yamal.

“I love Mbappe, he’s been outstanding since he came to Real Madrid, 35 goals, 4 assists. But I don’t know, the big games, he didn’t turn up this season in the Champions League.”

How are Salah’s Ballon d’Or chances?

There is no question that the outcome of the Champions League will influence who wins the Ballon d’Or. It’s the same every year.

With Inter Milan and PSG competing this year’s final, though, Salah’s chances have arguably been enhanced.

Dembele is the French team’s outstanding player and if he turns up in the final, that could help to decide it. It’s hard to see any of his teammates truly challenging the likes of Salah, Raphinha and Yamal.

For Inter, Lautaro Martinez may be best placed, but the Argentine hasn’t had a great Serie A campaign, scoring just 12 goals. Inter may also yet be pipped to the Scudetto by Napoli.

As a result, Salah may fancy that if he can finish the season strongly, he’ll put himself right back in the conversation. As Agbonlahor rightly points out, though, Mbappe has had a great season too, as have Harry Kane and Robert Lewandowski. There are still plenty of contenders.