Mo Salah fury as ‘astonishing’ Liverpool star snub blasted
Robbie Fowler has blasted the fact that Liverpool star Mohamed Salah was snubbed in the Ballon d’Or rankings.
The Egyptian superstar failed to make the shortlist for the prestigious award despite notching 25 goals and 14 assists in all competitions last season as Jurgen Klopp’s side finished third in the Premier League.
There were six nominees from the Premier League including eventual winner Manchester City’s Rodri, Erling Haaland and Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka but no Reds player was involved.
The Reds legend criticised the snub in quotes published in the Sunday Mirror’s print edition [page 70, 29 December], saying: “Mo Salah not being in the 30 Ballon d’Or rankings. Don’t get me started. Astonishing.”
Liverpool star Salah seems to have taken it personally
The 32-year-old seems to have taken the snub personally, starting the season in sensational form, notching 16 goals and 11 assists in 17 league matches.
Salah is aiming to become the first African player to win the award since George Weah achieved the feat in 1995.
Reds icon and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher [The Telegraph, 28 December] believes that he has “a great chance” but warned that Arne Slot’s side need to reach the final of the Champions League for Salah’s dream to come true.
It is rather surprising that Salah’s highest finish in the award’s rankings is fifth place in 2019 after the Merseyside club lifted Europe’s biggest competition when teammate Virgil van Dijk finished second behind Lionel Messi.
It feels like the Egyptian is underrated by the wider footballing world despite his insane numbers and performances for the Anfield club across eight seasons.
If his red-hot form continues, he could fire the Reds to a domestic title and a European one and it may be the best chance at Ballon d’Or glory that he has ever had with no other standout contender so far.
In other Liverpool news, supporters have reacted to a bombshell update over the future of Trent Alexander-Arnold.
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