Liverpool legend puts Mohamed Salah in same category as Cristiano Ronaldo and explains why
11/11/2024 07:21 AM
At 32, Mohamed Salah looks to be getting even better with age.
The Liverpool talisman has spearheaded Arne Slot‘s incredible start to life at Anfield, with his latest strike against Aston Villa helping the Reds to open up a five-point lead at the Premier League summit.
Salah‘s tally for the season now stands at 10 goals and 10 assists in all competitions, with only Manchester City goal machine Erling Haaland having scored more in the Premier League.
His contributions have seen him defy age, with the Egyptian still in peak physical condition where many players have slowed down in their 30s.
And according to Reds legend Ray Houghton, Salah’s commitment to staying at the top of his game in the latter stages of his career puts him in the same category as Cristiano Ronaldo.
Appearing on talkSPORT Breakfast, Houghton compared the two, saying: "I think the best example is Cristiano Ronaldo.
“You look at what Ronaldo has done to himself, and how he’s kept himself in prime condition. It’s about attitude of mind, it’s about living the right way, it’s about applying yourself.
"And I think Mo’s in that category. I think he wants to play for as long as he can, because he loves football, he loves scoring goals, he loves assisting.”
With the Portuguese icon now 39, and having notched more goals in his 30s than in his 20s, Houghton argued that Salah has demonstrated a similar upwards curve in his career.
The ex-Chelsea man has also shown no signs of slowing down since entering his fourth decade in June 2022, having hit the 20-goal mark in all competitions in each of his last two campaigns.
And Houghton highlighted the Salah’s development in his all-round game this term under new manager Slot.
He continued: “Not only is he scoring, he’s making goals as well, which is something he might not have done in the past, but he’s become an all-round player this season, for me.
"I think he’s changed his game, and I think it’s been rewarding for Liverpool, Liverpool are seeing the best of him at the moment, both scoring and assisting goals."
With Slot’s approach placing greater defensive demands on his attackers than his predecessor Jurgen Klopp, Houghton explained just how crucial Salah has been in this transition.
The former Republic of Ireland international said: "He’s absolutely fantastic, when you watch Mo perform. And his energy levels this season as well have been absolutely incredible.
He went on: “This season, you look at their fitness levels, not only going forward but defensively.
"They press high, they’ve got a short time period to win the ball back. If they don’t, then they sprint back into defensive positions, everyone gets behind the ball.
"And that’s every player, that isn’t like one or two of them that do it, every player, straight back in. And then they’ve got good shape about them to play against the opposition they’re playing against.
“But Mo is key.”
With Salah yet to sign a new contract with the Reds, and his current deal set to run out in June 2025, fans will be hoping his continued high performance will convince him to commit his long-term future to the Anfield outfit.
