Manchester United legend Gary Neville has praised Salah following Liverpool’s victory over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
Salah, who found the net alongside Dominik Szoboszlai, impressed not just with his goal but with his physical dominance, a trait that stood out to the former Manchester United captain.
“He’s been class for five, six, seven, eight, nine years, however long he’s been at Liverpool,” Neville said on his podcast. “When I watch him now, he’s unplayable. Psychologically, he’s in his opponent’s head before the game even starts.
“When you play against someone and think, ‘I’m going to smash him, I’m going to knock him, I’m gonna go through him’ you can’t. He’s like a brick wall. That ball gets played up to him from 40, 50 yards by Alisson, and he’s holding Josko Gvardiol off, who’s six foot three, like he’s a little boy.”
Neville continued: “He’s always been strong, but this season, I’ve noticed something even more. When Van Dijk pings an 80-yard pass over, you just know Salah is going to bring it down instantly. He’s at the top of his game, a different level than anyone else in the league this season. He’s world-class.”
At 32, Salah remains at the peak of his powers. With 25 goals and 16 assists in 27 Premier League games, he leads the goal-scoring charts. His form has been instrumental in Liverpool’s push for the title, as they currently hold a nine-point lead over second-placed Arsenal.
However, the forward’s long-term future remains uncertain. His contract is set to expire at the end of the season, and he has yet to agree to a new deal.
“Liverpool will obviously be desperate to keep him. He’s one of the very best players the Premier League has ever seen,” Neville added.
Liverpool will look to extend their lead at the top of the table when they host Newcastle United at Anfield on Wednesday before turning their attention to the Champions League, where they face Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16.