Years after Manè’s move, Salah talks about the competition that existed between the two stars.
Liverpool fans have been blessed with plenty of iconic goal scoring partnerships over the years. Two players who blend together seamlessly to create magical moments for the Liverpool faithful to sing about.
One of the best duos in recent history has to have been the pairing of Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah. These two African dynamos had everything needed to successfully lead the line: speed, intelligence, intricate footwork, quick thinking, accuracy, and seemingly inexhaustible engines. They were also both incredibly healthy and rarely missed games.
However, it’s no surprise that two such elite and highly competitive players would both feel pressure to score goals and be the best. After years of consistently ranking first and second for the the team’s highest goal scorers, trading African Player of the Year awards and AFCon prizes, Salah admits that there was a bit of a rivalry between the two.
In an interview with a French press outlet L’Equipe, Salah talked about their professional relationship over the years together for the club.
“I scored a lot (44 goals in my first season), and then Sadio told himself it was his turn to score more too,” he said. “Yes, there was tension with Sadio. But look, we remained professional until the end, and I don’t think it affected the team.
“It’s natural for someone to want more, and I understand that – he’s a competitor. Off the pitch, we weren’t very close, but we always respected each other.
“As for the comments about me being selfish? I don’t care. People have the right to think what they want – that’s their business. But I invite everyone to notice that the player who provided the most assists to Mané was me (18 assists). People can look at the facts, but clearly, it’s easier to throw out statements like that – they make big headlines.”
It’s true that all of the best forwards are goal hungry. What would be the point if they weren’t? And the idea that Salah is selfish on the ball is a pretty lazy accusation. Yes, he scores goals, but as he points out, he’s also a prolific creator for his teammates. Even this season, he sits atop both the goal and assist tables.
In the end, their rivalry only helped them both make it into the conversation for the best players in the world. They helped Liverpool to a sixth Champions League trophy and 19th league win. That’s the kind of tension that every football fan wants for their players on the pitch.