Troy Deeney insists Mohamed Salah ‘is NOT world class’

Former Watford striker Troy Deeney has claimed Liverpool star Mohamed Salah is not world class.

Salah is a Reds legend who has scored 221 goals and provided a further 99 assists in 366 games since joining the club in 2017.

The winger, who has won the Premier League and Champions League with Liverpool, has continued his exceptional form this season. He struck ten times in just seventeen games in all competitions for Arne Slot's resurgent side.

However, Deeney is not convinced that Salah is one of the best players in the world because he does not meet one criterion.

'I think Mohamed Salah is excellent, he is a crucial role for Liverpool and they should never have let that happen [his expiring contract] come to this situation,” Deeney told talkSPORT.

“But I understand there's a financial structure around what they want to adhere to.

'My argument has always been that I just don't think he is world class.

'But world class is just a different opinion. What I think about world class is, would I want my kids to play like that player? I think that's world class.

“If I were to ask my kids who wants to move forward, I would say I would want them to watch what Vinicius Jr. unlike Mohamed Salah.

'But his goals that he [Salah] scores, he scores an incredible amount of goals, he is very effective, but that's just my opinion.

“He'll probably turn around and say, 'Who's Troy?', and fair to him, but that's just my opinion.”

Only Ian Rush (339) and Roger Hunt (263) have scored more goals for Liverpool than Salah in the club's 132-year history.

Salah scored 163 goals in the Premier League for the Reds, while he scored a further two goals while playing for Chelsea in the 2013/2014 season.

The 32-year-old climbed to ninth on the Premier League's all-time leader list when he scored the opening goal in Liverpool's 2-1 win over his former club at Anfield last month.

There are fears that Salah will not play for Liverpool next season as his contract expires in the summer.

Speaking about the forward's future earlier this month, Reds boss Arne SLOT told TNT Sorts: 'The only thing I think about is that he is so important to us. Scores important goals, works hard for the team.

'I hope he can enjoy that feeling many, many more times. Especially when I'm here, but also when I'm not. I hope he can do this many more times.

'He has been incredible for Liverpool over the last eight years. He has been fantastic for us this season and I hope he can continue to do so for the rest of the season and maybe longer, but that is up to him and the club to find the idea for the future.”