Former Manchester United and Liverpool midfielder Paul Ince is not convinced that Mohamed Salah is a world class player, questioning his technical ability.
The Egyptian has been one of the best players in the Premier League since moving to Anfield from Roma in 2017, scoring 154 top flight goals in 243 appearances.
His immensely successful stint at Liverpool has seen him score 209 goals in all competitions in 340 outings, establishing himself as one of the most potent forwards on the planet.
Most would place the 31-year-old in the world class bracket, but Ince is not one of them, at least not on all counts.
The former England midfielder admits there is no questioning his goal-scoring record, but he does not think other aspects of his game are at the elite level.
Is he a world-class goalscorer? Yes,’ Ince told talkSPORT. ‘I think his record speaks for itself.
‘Is he a world-class player, technically? I wouldn’t say so. I think sometimes when he cuts in on his left foot, putting balls into the box, they are not great.
‘But as a far as a world class player scoring goals and making things happen, I think yes.’
Earlier this season Jurgen Klopp gave his take on exactly why he feels Salah is world class, thanks to the forwarding adapting his role after moving from Roma to Liverpool and again after Darwin Nunez arrived.
‘The young Mo was a super fast player who could go in behind and play that role together with [Edin] Dzeko; Dzeko controlled the ball or deflected it and Mo was there,’ said Klopp.
‘Here, from the first day he had to do different things, he adapted extremely well but the playmaker in that front role was probably more Bobby [Firmino] setting things up.
‘You don’t then need two players who are deeper, it’s not that good because you need players in the box to bring the ball over the line.
‘So now it’s slightly different, especially with Darwin when he’s playing, we have another speed player up there so that changed Mo’s position definitely.
‘He’s smart enough to adapt to all these different things. It’s a massive development since he arrived but he was, in all phases, world class. That’s probably the best you can say about a player.’
