Troy Deeney doubles down on Mohamed Salah's 'world class' claim and names Liverpool star's only weakness

If you're wondering if Troy Deeney has done a U-turn on his claim that Mohamed Salah isn't world class, think again…

The former Watford and Birmingham striker left many fans stunned after claiming that Liverpool's talisman is “excellent” but not world class and that he would prefer to tell his children to play more like Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr.

Deeney joined talkSPORT Drive on Wednesday and was unsurprisingly asked if he had been forced to reconsider his previous opinion.

What is discussed LiverpoolIn the 1-0 win over Girona in the Champions League on Tuesday, in which Salah scored the winning goal from the penalty spot, host Andy Goldstein asked if Deeney isn't a big fan of the winger.

“I'm a fan!” Deeney responded. “I'm a fan, yeah. I'm just not a big fan of everyone saying every player is world class.

“Yesterday I was watching the Bayern Munich game and (apparently Michael) Olise is now 'world class'.

“It's like instantly (that happens) as soon as someone does something good.

“That's what the commentators were saying. As soon as someone does something well, they say, 'He's world class.'”

And he continued: “If I were the best winger in world football right now, I would choose Vinicius Jr.

“That's just my personal opinion. But you know how this game is, everyone has an opinion.”

“If you say 'I don't think I'm world class,' everyone will say 'Oh my God, I was better than you!'

“I understand that!”

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When asked if he would include Salah in an XI with him playing opposite Vincius Jr, Deeney admitted the Egyptian would make it.

“Yes,” he said. “I'd be there. I'd be in the top four wingers right now.”

Deeney soon revealed more of his reasoning behind why Salah is not “world class” in his opinion.

And the former Forest Green coach insisted only one player can be world class in each position at the same time.

Asked if he was reluctant to include the former Chelsea star in that category, he said: “I think it's only about five players.

“A goalkeeper, a defender, a midfielder, a winger and a forward.

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“I think it can turn very quickly.”

He added: “I was watching Man United vs Real Madrid in 2003 at Old Trafford, where Man United won 4-3 and Ronaldo scored a hat-trick.

“When you look at that team, the players and the people on the bench, they would have been incredible players at certain times, who wouldn't have been considered world class, but no one disputed that.

“But now with social media, with statistics, it's like 'he's world class,' 'he's world class,' and 'he's world class.'

“Okay, so what's the level? Are you world class or are you trash?”

Deeney believes that the judgment of “world class” is also very subjective.

“There will be 1,000 people saying Salah is great and the best player of all time,” he said.

“But then again, if you ask generationally, if you ask people who watched Liverpool in the 1980s, a lot of people would say John Barnes is the best winger Liverpool have ever had.

“It depends on your feelings and also where you were at the time.”

And in Deeney's mind, Salah has a key weakness that he believes helps reinforce his argument that he is not world class.

“I think you miss a lot of important opportunities,” he said. “It sounds really crazy considering the amount of goals he scores.

“But you miss a lot of important opportunities.”