Troy Deeney has once again questioned whether Mo Salah deserves the “world-class” label following his performance in the Carabao Cup final.
Salah failed to register a shot or create a chance at Wembley, marking the first time in his Liverpool career he has gone completely blank in a final. He also remains without a goal or assist from open play in seven major finals for the club.
Speaking on his show, Breakfast, Deeney stood by his previous claims that Salah, despite his impressive numbers, does not meet the criteria of a truly world-class player.
“When you look at the stats, he hasn’t scored or assisted in these big games. It’s difficult to argue against,” Deeney said.
The former Watford striker added, “I just didn’t see a moment where he looked like scoring. When Liverpool are at their best, everything flows through Salah.”
He also highlighted the impact of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s absence, echoing Jamie Carragher’s remarks that Liverpool’s attacking reliance on Salah makes them easier to defend against.
“I’m a big fan of Salah, but I [still] don’t think he’s world class,” Deeney continued. “His numbers are excellent, but world class is the feeling you get when watching someone like Ronaldinho, Hazard, or Suarez when they were at their peak.”
Salah’s performance against Newcastle followed a similarly quiet outing in Liverpool’s Champions League elimination at the hands of PSG.
Despite Deeney’s criticism, the Egyptian is having one of the best seasons of his career, leading both the Premier League goals and assists charts. With 32 goals and 22 assists in 43 appearances, he has also climbed to joint-fifth in the league’s all-time top scorers list, matching Sergio Aguero’s 184 goals.
However, with his contract set to expire at the end of the season and no agreement yet reached on an extension, speculation continues over whether this could be Salah’s final year at Anfield.