"His stats are through the roof" – Former Liverpool star claims Mohamed Salah is not a world-class player

Ex-Liverpool defender Gary Gillespie has insisted that Mohamed Salah is not a world-class player, despite the Egyptian's exploits for the Reds.

Earlier this Saturday (August 17), Salah helped Arne Slot's outfit open their 2024-25 Premier League campaign with a 2-0 away win against Ipswich Town. After assisting Jota's 60th-minute opener, the 32-year-old bagged his first goal of the term in the 65th minute of the contest.

However, ahead of Liverpool's encounter at Portman Road, Gillespie made bold comments about Salah. He told LFCTV (h/t SPORTbible):

"We talk about Mohamed Salah being a world-class footballer... is he a world class footballer? I don't think he is a world-class footballer, but his stats suggest that he is, because his stats are through the roof."

Since leaving AS Roma for over £36 million in 2017, Salah has proved to be one of Liverpool's all-time greatest players. He has recorded 212 goals and 88 assists in 350 matches across all competitions for them.

Salah, who has guided the Merseyside outfit to eight trophies, will next be in action in an encounter against Brentford on Sunday (August 25).

Arne Slot claims Liverpool's tactical tweaks crucial to recent triumph over Ipswich Town

At a press conference, Liverpool head coach Arne Slot shared his two cents on his team's recent performance. He said (h/t liverpoolfc.com):

"I have to give credit to Ipswich because I think they were aggressive, they were not afraid, they were playing one-v-one all over the pitch to defend us. Then it is about winning your duels and winning your second balls. I think they won more than us and that's why it was absolutely an equal game in the first half."

Slot, who left Feyenoord to replace Jurgen Klopp at the Reds, added:

"Second half, we won more duels, won more second balls and played more balls in behind because if the other team takes the risk of playing one-v-one and you have the likes of Luis Diaz, Mo Salah and Diogo Jota, then use them, play the balls in behind. That's what we did better in the second half and from there on gaps opened up and you could see how well we could play in possession."

The Reds relished 62% possession, registered 18 shots, and created six big chances in their Premier League match against Ipswich Town.

Kieran McKenna's side, on the other hand, registered seven shots and completed 272 passes with 78% accuracy. Slot's outfit completed 492 passes with 86% accuracy in the Dutch tactician's first game in charge.