Josko Gvardiol has issued high praise to one Liverpool star, claiming he is on the same level as Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and even Lionel Messi.
Arne Slot’s side this season is filled with illustrious names. However, the Liverpool squad hasn’t quite gelled together as he would like.
Naturally, bringing in an abundance of new players poses early problems, but with the likes of Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and others, it’s only a matter of time before they click.
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They need to connect with some of the existing stars too, including the crown jewel of Anfield – Mohamed Salah – who has been out of form. Yet even the most fearsome Premier League defenders know how dangerous he can be on his day.
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty ImagesJosko Gvardiol hails Mo Salah on Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi’s level
In a social post with ESPN, Manchester City and Croatia centre-back Josko Gvardiol was tasked with picking his three toughest opponents of all time. He was quick to name Lionel Messi, teammate Erling Haaland, and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.
Salah has faced Gvardiol numerous times in recent years as City and Liverpool have battled for Premier League supremacy, with the Egyptian often finding the net in this fixture.
To be placed alongside Haaland is one thing, but to be mentioned in the same breath as Messi is another. Salah will be remembered as one of the greatest of all time, and Gvardiol’s comments are testament to that.
Gabby Agbonlahor compares Salah to Messi – but not in a good way
The Egyptian has been compared to Messi recently, though not for the right reasons. Salah’s work rate has come under fire, with Gabby Agbonlahor drawing a less flattering parallel to the Argentine legend.
Agbonlahor said: “The defensive part is right (about the criticism towards Salah) because the number of times Cucurella is going forward and it’s two-v-one on Conor Bradley and Salah sort of tries to press a little bit then just stops and relaxes like we have seen [Lionel] Messi do time and time again over his career.
“Liverpool can’t afford to be a man down defensively. You can tell when Mo Salah is not at it because defenders are starting to [say]: ‘Go on try and run me’. Cucurella and [Benoit] Badiashile were getting really tight to him and said: ‘Go on try to run me on the outside’ and whenever he did, they took the ball off him.
“Cucurella had him in his pocket the whole 96 minutes. But what options do Liverpool have naturally to replace Salah? Frimpong can play on the right of midfield but he’s not been at it this season so you can see why he’s stayed on in games and can get you that goal. It feels harsh ever criticising him.
“We’re still early in the season. I’m sure Mo Salah is his biggest critic and knows he could have done better. Some of the chances he had at the weekend, cutting inside when Gakpo is making a run and Isak is not happy not getting a pass and Mo Salah is shooting a lot, but how many times has he scored cutting inside and bending it into the top corner? I’m sure he will come good. It’s hard to criticise Mo Salah, it just doesn’t feel right, but Arne Slot has probably got to look at it and say: ‘You’ve got to do your defensive responsibilities.’
“In the first half, with the outside of the boot and Isak puts it over the bar. If he scores that, you’re going: ‘Wow, Mo Salah’. He’s still got the levels of quality he has shown over his career.”
Whether the winger’s form picks up remains to be seen, but the comparisons between the Argentine and the Egyptian at this moment in time aren’t exactly positive ones.