Chelsea legend Eden Hazard might have just have put an end to any comparisons between himself and Liverpool's Egyptian king Mohamed Salah. Having returned to the Premier League on an underwhelming note during his time at Chelsea, Salah has erupted into a global phenomenon since arriving from AS Roma.
His initial $48m (£36m/€43m) price paid by Liverpool was quickly overshadowed by an astonishing haul of 216 goals in 357 appearances, silencing any doubters and solidifying his place as one of Anfield's all-time greats.
Debate has often raged among Chelsea fans about who was better: Hazard, with his dazzling displays for Chelsea that earned him a dream move to Real Madrid, or Salah, with his record-breaking exploits for Liverpool. However, during an interview with Sport Bible, where Hazard engaged in a light-hearted game guessing former teammates from their FIFA/EAFC avatars, the Belgian made his stance clear.
When asked directly, "Who was better, you or Mo Salah? ", Hazard's immediate response was simply: "Salah."
Liverpool are wrestling with the challenge of securing Salah's future as he comes within the last half-year of his agreement at the club. The arrival of Arne Slot at Anfield could overlap only for a year with Salah as things stand, though there is still time for him to pen an extension.
Although Salah's contract is set to run out in the summer of 2025, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has cast some doubt on the Reds' willingness to let him walk away. Reflecting on the pivotal part Salah played in the 3-0 triumph over Manchester United, Carragher commented: "I think Mo Salah is obsessed, like Ronaldo, with records and longevity."
"Most of us think, when you get to 35, you're done in football," he added. "The way that lad looks after himself, I think he's thinking of playing until he's 40, or late 30s at least.
"I don't think a Saudi situation is on the cards next season. He's too good. He's playing in the best league in the world, for one of the biggest clubs in the world," he added. "Whether it's in another season or two seasons' time, he's alongside Kenny Dalglish and Steven Gerrard as the top players to play for Liverpool.
"He's possibly the best wide player we've seen in the Premier League, even if hasn't got the medals that maybe some others have got. Of course you fight to keep him. It's not about throwing money at him. It's not what you've done in the past, it's what you're doing in the future.
"When you get into your mid-30s, you can't do what you did before but he might be different. Of course Liverpool want to keep him and Virgil van Dijk, but it will probably be about wages. Are they still on the same wages because, in the next two or three years, will they still be the same players?
"That's the debate that will be had. I would be very surprised if Salah isn't playing for Liverpool next season because I think he'll want to blitz every record in the club's history."
Liverpool.com says: Keeping Salah should be a no-brainer. As he proved against Wolves at the weekend, even when he isn't playing well, he tends to have a major impact on matches. In that instance, he got the decisive goal in the game from the penalty spot.
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