Sports pundit Rio Ferdinand believes Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah is still the best right winger in the Premier League.
Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka got his season off to a flyer with a stunning goal in the Gunners’ 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon but, when asked if there was a better player currently playing in Saka’s position, Ferdinand responded:
“I think Salah is in the conversation. I think Salah right now gets more goals, so I’d put Salah maybe ahead of him. He’s [Salah] had good experience, he’s won things as well. His resume is that much more fuller because of the age as well and experience. This kid’s [Saka] on the way, on the tracks to get up to those heights.”
“You have to remember, Salah was netting at late 20’s, 30 goals a season consistently. He’s got to get to that and I think he will. Salah wasn’t doing this, what Saka’s doing, at this age. He wasn’t deciding games at the top level, in the Premier League consistently for a top team, he wasn’t.”
While Ferdinand is correct to say that Salah wasn’t anywhere near as good as Saka when he was the same age as the England international is now, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the Arsenal star will kick on and become the elite player that Salah is currently.
Career trajectories can change based on form, injury and other factors so direct comparisons are difficult. They are at different stages in their development.
Although the Arsenal star has won a few cup competitions already, he certainly doesn’t have the same trophy haul as Salah, who has won everything there is to win at club level.
The Egyptian has also been named the PFA Player of the Year twice so he has individual accolades to go with his medals, and he deserves tremendous credit for his achievements.
