Troy Deeney: Liverpool star Mohamed Salah 'not world class', wouldn't want my kids to play like him

You'd think Mohamed Salah would have shut down any “world-class” debate by now, but Troy Deeney isn't sure.

He Liverpool Icon has won every trophy on offer for the Reds and is fifth in their all-time goalscoring charts and eighth in the Premier League standings.

Salah has twice finished third in the fifa Best award vote and recently became the highest scoring African in Champions League history, along with his two Premier League Golden Boots.

But for Deeney, there is one criterion he has not met.

He WatfordEdit The legend and talkSPORT expert explained: “I think Mohamed Salah is excellent, he is a fundamental part of Liverpool and they should never have let (his expired contract) get to this situation.

“But I understand that there is a financial structure around what they want to try to maintain.

“My argument has always been that I just don't think it's world class.

“But world class is just a different opinion. What I think of world class is: would I like my kids to play like that player? That's what I think world class is.

“If I asked my children who wanted to be forwards, I would tell them that I would like them to see what Vinicius Jr. He does it unlike Mohamed Salah.

“But the goals that he (Salah) scores, he scores an incredible amount of goals, he is very effective, but that is just my opinion.

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

While Vinicius Jr has more goals (12) than Salah's ten this season, it is the former Chelsea striker who has surpassed the Brazilian in each of his previous eight campaigns.

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Despite Salah's positive start to the 2024/25 season, Liverpool fans fear this could be his last year.

The 32-year-old is tied up at Anfield until 2025 and is free to talk to foreign clubs about a free transfer from January.

Salah has commented publicly on the apparent stalemate between him and the club, saying it is not in his hands.

Liverpool also has a captain Virgil van Dijk and vice captain Trent Alexander-Arnold in the same boat.

But none of those players will attract the same kind of attention that Salah has in the Middle East.

The Egyptian was previously the subject of a mammoth £150m bid from Saudi giants Al-Ittihad in 2023, but Liverpool rejected the other.

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While there are doubts over whether Salah will stay or not, Deeney believes Salah will continue to be loved by his adoring Liverpool fans even if he moves to Saudi Arabia.

He explained: “He is huge in the Middle East. It's a big draw, but we look at it solely from the league's perspective.

“But think about how many times this guy gets beaten up for simply posting photos on Christmas Day.

“All that goes away and there are a lot of nuances to it.

“At this point in his career I don't think he's going for money, I could be wrong, but I don't think he's going for money.

“I believe he will go where he is motivated and have the best life for his wife and children.

“Whatever he chooses, he has earned the right to do it, and if he decides not to play for Liverpool again, he will remain a Liverpool legend.”