Paul Merson claims Chelsea and England star is 'more consistent' than Liverpool's Mohamed Salah

01/05/2025 03:36 AM

Paul Merson has claimed Chelsea and England star Cole Palmer is ‘more consistent’ than Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.

Salah is not letting the intense speculation over his future at Anfield harm his form for the club, scoring 17 goals and creating 13 assists in 18 Premier League games this season.

The Egyptian superstar has been arguably the best player in the world this season, his stunning form helping Arne Slot’s Liverpool build up a healthy lead at the top of the Premier League table.

Merson ‘loves’ Salah and has described him as ‘different class’ – but says Palmer is ‘more consistent’.

Palmer has established himself as one of the best players in the Premier League since leaving Manchester City in a deal worth £40m in the summer of 2023.

The 22-year-old, who featured for England at last summer’s Euros, scored 22 goals and made 11 assists during his first season at Stamford Bridge and already has 19 goal involvements this term.

‘I think he has made Chelsea a much better team,’ Merson told Sky Sports when asked the form of Palmer and Salah.

‘He's been involved a lot more. I think Salah is playing in an unbelievable team with unbelievable players. But Palmer, I just think he's a special, special player.

‘Believe it or not, I think he's more consistent than Salah in a game of 90 minutes. I think he's involved more.

‘Don't get me wrong, I love Salah. He's a different class — one of the best in the world.

‘But sometimes you'll watch Salah, and he'll do something, and you'll go, “Really?” Or he'll put one over the bar, and you'll go, “Really?” The thing with Salah, he can not touch the ball and score two goals in two minutes.

‘I just think Palmer’s carried Chelsea. I think he's been a catalyst. I don't think Salah has been a catalyst. I think he's in a very, very good team.

‘This lad [Palmer] has taken Chelsea to the brink of hopefully getting into the Champions League.’

Palmer scored his 13th goal of the season on Saturday to put Chelsea 1-0 up against London rivals Crystal Palace.

The Blues were aiming to end a run of three games without a win but conceded late on to drop more points and seemingly drop out of the title race.

Chelsea have now failed to beat Palace, Ipswich Town, Fulham and Everton since December 22.

Salah’s Liverpool, meanwhile, are five points clear at the top of the Premier League – with two games in hand.

Discussing the club’s title aspirations and his future on Merseyside earlier this week, Salah said: ‘We didn't celebrate the one we won with the club the way we wanted.

‘And also coming back here, it's my last year in the club, so you want to do something special for the city. That was the thing in my head.’

Pressed on whether he believes this will be his last season at Liverpool, Salah replied: ‘So far yes, last six months. There is no progress there, we are far away from any progress. So we just need to wait and see.

‘The thing in my head is, if it's your last six months or year, what do you want to see in the future?

‘Do you want to look back and say I was concerned about the contract or stressed? I just want to say I had an unbelievable season.

‘That's in my head now. If I feel kind of distracted, I remind myself that I want to look back and say I had an unbelievable season. That's what I want to do.’

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