8 months ago
135 Jeff Stelling is expecting a ‘battering’ from Liverpool fans after making a controversial claim about Mohamed Salah.
The legendary presenter has been selecting a ‘Title Race XI’ on talkSPORT and surprisingly left Mohamed Salah out of his side.
Despite playing just 28 games for Liverpool this season, Salah has netted 19 times and provided 10 assists.
The 31-year-old very much remains Jurgen Klopp’s main man in the final third and with the Reds sitting top of the Premier League, you’d imagine Salah will play a defining role in the title race.
But Jeff Stelling has picked Bukayo Saka over Salah while selecting an XI from Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal players.
Stelling makes controversial Salah claim
Speaking on talkSPORT, Stelling was fully aware that his choice to snub Salah for Saka wouldn’t go down well with Liverpool supporters.
“I’d have Saka in the side,” he said. “I just think he’s such an exhilarating young talent.
“I’d have three Arsenal players in mine, Saliba, Rice and Saka. It’s going to cost you somebody and I think that somebody might be Mohamed Salah.”
“Ooooh, what do you think? You can’t leave Salah out,” Ally McCoist responded.
“How you possibly aren’t playing Salah is remarkable! I’m playing Salah on the right, Haaland through the middle and Foden, in current form, he might be the best player in the country,” McCoist added.
“Haaland and Foden go without saying,” Stelling went on. “I’ve gone with Saka rather than Salah, I just think Saka has been sensational. Look, the stats, there isn’t much to pick between them.”
“I’ve gone for the exuberance of youth. Saka has got age on his side and that’s why I’ve gone for him above Salah.
“But I accept I’m going to get a battering from Liverpool fans.”
You could make a case for Saka being in the side on current form over Salah as the Liverpool winger has played just 46 minutes in the league since the turn of the year.
Yet, Salah remains one of the best forwards in world football and has provided in the biggest moments for Liverpool.
While Saka looks set to establish himself as a world-class player over the coming years, we’d certainly rather have Salah playing off the right-hand side during the business end of the campaign.
The post 'I'm going to get a battering': Jeff Stelling makes controversial claim about Mohamed Salah live on air appeared first on TBR Football.
