Former Manchester United captain, Rio Ferdinand, has recently expressed disbelief over the criticism directed towards Liverpool star, Mohamed Salah. This comes after a period of struggle for the Egyptian player before Liverpool's recent victory.
Mohamed Salah was undoubtedly one of the key players in Liverpool's 4-2 win against Tottenham at Anfield. This victory served as a reminder of his capabilities following a disappointing spell where he only managed to score two goals in eight league appearances - both from penalty kicks.
Despite this slump in form, it is important to remember that even the best athletes have their off days and periods of struggle. However, these instances should not overshadow their overall performance and contribution to the team.
Unfair criticism according to Manchester United legend
Salah has been on the receiving end of considerable criticism recently. He was involved in an unpleasant incident with Jurgen Klopp before playing in the West Ham match last month which further fueled negative comments about him.
The Three Up Front podcast even questioned whether he could be considered world-class - a statement that prompted Rio Ferdinand to defend him staunchly following his weekend performance. Speaking on Vibe with Five, Ferdinand suggested that not enough credit is being given for what Salah has achieved this season - scoring 18 times in top-flight matches alone.
Rio Ferdinand, Manchester United legend, said:
“Can I just say something about Mo Salah? I think he’s been disrespected, I’ve seen a lot of comments about him, I’ve seen people talking about him, caning him. But I don’t think there’s a debate that Mo Salah’s been world-class for a number of years,”
“Maybe this season he’s tailed off, but I think in his pomp years at Liverpool, absolutely world-class. Real Madrid only win that Champions League final because he came off injured. Up until he came off injured, Liverpool were the team on the front foot. As soon as he came off the pitch, everything changed. His numbers are flipping off the charts, I don’t understand it. It’s unbelievable, Mo Salah has been so disrespected.
“They’ve got a new podcast, Graeme Souness, Troy Deeney and Simon Jordan; I couldn’t believe the disrespect I was seeing about him. They were talking about him like he was just any guy.”
'Premier League great' is a good way to describe Salah
While it's true that Salah’s previous form does not exempt him from critique when he underperforms, some criticisms have been excessively harsh according to Ferdinand. It is also worth noting that while Liverpool can compete regardless of whether or not Salah is at his best, there were instances where other teammates failed to step up as well.
With 157 Premier League goals scored across just 261 games under his belt and another impressive season ongoing for Liverpool Reds, there should be no doubt about Mohamed Salah’s standing as one of the greatest players ever seen in Premier League history.
In the world of sports, it is easy to focus on a player's current form and overlook their overall contribution. However, as Rio Ferdinand has pointed out, it is crucial to remember the bigger picture. Despite recent struggles, Mohamed Salah remains an integral part of Liverpool's success and one of the Premier League's greatest players.
