Salah has experienced a downturn this season and his actions off the pitch have drawn criticism from figures such as Carragher, but he is an icon at Anfield and will be regarded as a Premier League great. After enduring difficulties at Chelsea early in his career, Salah truly made his mark on English football in his debut season with Liverpool, surpassing former Manchester United forward Ronaldo’s 31 league goals.
This forms part of Carragher’s argument, believing the Liverpool legend ranks above Ronaldo and second only to a certain Thierry Henry.
“In the pantheon of overseas attacking players who have played for England, only Thierry Henry surpasses Salah’s performance and consistency,” Carragher wrote in his column for the Telegraph.
“Many will argue the merits of players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Eden Hazard, Gianfranco Zola, Dennis Bergkamp and Eric Cantona, but no player has put up as consistently impressive numbers season after season as the Egyptian.
“Ronaldo’s time at Manchester United, both early on and during his return, spanned his absolute zenith at Real Madrid. If we strictly judge his performance and impact in the Premier League, then Salah is just a little ahead of him. Salah is a clear choice in the front three alongside Henry and Ronaldo in the best XI in Premier League history.”
Despite both being Liverpool legends, Carragher and Salah have had disagreements over the years, often via social media. In December, Carragher branded Salah’s explosive interview after he was benched as a “disgrace” and accused the forward of trying to have Reds manager Arn Slott sacked.
But Carragher was lavish in his praise for the 33-year-old as he prepares to bid farewell to Anfield in May as Liverpool’s final game is at home to Brentford.
“Nothing impresses me more in a game than a world-class footballer who never wants to miss a game,” he added.
“In Salah’s case, if he was substituted and had to miss even a minute of action, he would become visibly unhappy. Such displays of displeasure were often frowned upon by others.”
“But give me a star player who can’t stand sitting on the bench or in the stands and making fun of players who can’t get off the field quickly. That hunger and resilience are the hallmarks of true greatness.”
