Salah ‘can take huge step’ towards Ballon d’Or with Carabao Cup win
Mohamed Salah’s chances of winning the Ballon d’Or dropped with Liverpool’s disappointing Champions League exit.
The Reds were knocked out of the competition against Paris Saint-Germain in a penalty shootout at Anfield with Salah failing to impact either leg of the contest.
As a result, the likes of Raphinha and Kylian Mbappe have moved ahead of him in the race for the prestigious award.
Salah can revive his Ballon d’Or chances with Liverpool trophy
However, Salah can revive his Ballon d’Or chances if he can guide the Anfield outfit to the first trophy of the season against Newcastle.
With the Reds having a comfortable margin at the summit of the Premier League, largely as a result of the 32-year-old’s exploits, if he can notch a decisive contribution in the Carabao Cup final it could vastly help his case.
The Egyptian needs to do something to turn the momentum back in his favour and the Wembley showcase could provide him with that platform.
Salah should win Ballon d’Or despite Champions League exit
If Salah does not win the prestigious award, it is a shambles, despite the last-16 exit in Europe’s premier competition.
The Egyptian has notched 32 goals and 22 assists in 42 matches in all competitions in a sensational individual season and is on course to be the first-ever player to win three PFA Player of the Year awards.
| Stats (Domestic league) | Salah | Raphinha | Mbappe |
| Goals | 27 | 13 | 20 |
| Assists | 17 | 9 | 3 |
| Minutes per goal | 95 | 164 | 112 |
That tally includes 27 strikes and 17 assists in the Premier League, which is the most in Europe’s top five leagues by a considerable margin, and is on target to break Alan Shearer’s record of 47 contributions in a single top-flight campaign in England.
Former Tottenham and England forward Harry Kane has the second most, with 29 for Bayern Munich, which is 15 behind the Reds star.
No player has had a bigger impact on their team than Salah this campaign, if he can guide the L4 outfit to a league and cup double, surely he will finally be given the recognition that he deserves and will be named as the second-ever African player to win the award.
Regardless of Mbappe and Raphinha’s exploits in European competition, neither are having an impact that is compatible with what Salah is doing domestically.