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Danny Murphy insists he would still pick Mohamed Salah over Bukayo Saka, despite the Liverpool star’s struggles so far this season.
After a sensational individual campaign as the Reds lifted the 2024/25 Premier League title, Salah has so far been unable to hit the same heights as Arne Slot’s side has stumbled through the opening stages of their defense.
Liverpool finds itself eight points behind Arsenal already after just 11 games, having lost seven of its last 10 games across all competitions. While few players have impressed so far, Salah’s form has actually seen him being dropped to the bench in a couple of Champions League games - a situation that would have been unthinkable last season.
The Egyptian has five goals and three assists across all competitions so far, including four goals in 11 league appearances, leaving him well off the pace he set last season.
Despite his relatively poor form, Salah is still ahead of Saka, who has just three league goals so far this season, while the England international is yet to record an assist in any competition. Saka has six goals overall, having also scored in the Carabao Cup - a competition Salah has not made an appearance in this season.
And while he has expressed concerns over his lack of defensive responsibilities, Murphy insists he would still pick the Liverpool talisman over his Arsenal counterpart if given the choice.
“I’d probably just still go with Salah because he can score goals from anywhere,” Murphy told talkSPORT (via the Metro). “You know, he’s just got this knack of scoring unbelievable goals more regularly.”
Murphy’s latest comments see him stick to his guns after he also picked Salah over Saka back in 2023.
“When I look it’s firepower for me. That’s the key,” Murphy said two years ago (via TBR). “There’s lot of arguments with Liverpool and Arsenal where you can say you’d rather have him than him. We could be here all day.”
The former Liverpool midfielder added: “Saka is not Salah, he’s a great player but he’s not Salah’s numbers.”
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Despite him sticking by Salah, Murphy does feel that something needs to change in the 33-year-old’s game, having insisted that his lack of defensive effort is damaging the Reds.
"There's a reason Mo Salah last season, when asked about the difference of playing under Slot he said, 'He tells me to defend less,' with a big smile on his face," Murphy stated said.
"Which is fine when you're scoring and winning games, but at the moment it's costing Liverpool."
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