Sutton cannot believe what he has heard about Salah at Liverpool – ‘Ridiculous’
Chris Sutton cannot tolerate doubts about Mohamed Salah after he fired Liverpool to Premier League glory.
Salah has played a key role in Liverpool’s road to Premier League glory this season, bagging 28 goals and 18 assists in 36 top flight games.
With 10 more goal contributions in other competitions, the Egypt international has emerged as a strong candidate to win the Ballon d’Or this season.
However, there still appears to be doubts over the left-footer’s status as one of the best Premier League players of all time.
Sutton hits back at Ian Ladyman for Salah claim
It should come as no surprise that Salah is a constant in every pundit’s Premier League team of the season this term.
After all, the 32-year-old leads the charts for the most number of goals and assists this campaign.
However, Ian Ladyman believes the former Chelsea ace could be more effective playing down the middle than on the right wing, like he usually does.
The Daily Mail journalist clarified that he has no doubts over Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot’s tactical acumen, but suggested that Salah could be ruthless for Liverpool in a more central role, only to be ridiculed by Sutton.
“I’m not suggesting that Jurgen Klopp, the winner of everything that he could win at Anfield, and Arne Slot, one out of one for attempts to win the Premier League, of course I’m not suggesting that they don’t know what they’re doing, but equally it’s my job as a journalist and also my instinct as a football fan to sometimes wonder”, Ladyman said on the It’s All Kicking Off podcast (14 May).
“So I’m just wondering why it is, because to my relatively untrained eye, it would work. So I’m just interested as to why it wouldn’t, and you’re just laughing at me. I’m just asking you why it wouldn’t work.”
| Matches | Goals | Assists | Minutes |
| 50 | 33 | 23 | 4321′ |
Sutton, though, had no plans to entertain Ladyman’s idea, dismissing it as ‘ridiculous’.
The Sky Sports pundit maintained that Slot is very much aware of Salah’s best position, which he feels is on the right flank.
“Because it’s so ridiculous. Well, he can [play down the middle] because he’s a brilliant player”, Sutton said.
“Do you think that that Slot would have meetings with his coaching staff, and they say, ‘Where’s Mo Salah the best fit? Oh, down the middle’, [and Slot says], ‘Okay, I’ll play him on the right then’. I mean, come on, you’re better than this.”
Salah to continue firing for Liverpool
Despite being on the wrong side of 30, Salah has shown no signs of slowing down.
That is why Liverpool fans were delighted when he put pen to paper on a two-year deal to extend his stay at Anfield until 2027.
There is no doubt that the attacker will continue firing on cylinders for the Reds next season, although he will not have support from Trent Alexander-Arnold.
However, Ladyman’s suggestion could prove true to some extent, with Liverpool lining up a move for Jeremie Frimpong to replace Alexander-Arnold.
The Dutchman’s overlapping runs could see Salah operate in central areas more often next term.