-Credit:Getty Images
Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has suggested that even Mohamed Salah would struggle for form if he was playing for Spurs right now.
Salah has of course been in sensational form for Liverpool this season, having scored 21 goals and added 17 assists in just 27 games across all competitions. That hot streak has seen fans renew calls for him to be handed a new contract, with his current deal at Anfield set to expire at the end of the campaign.
If selected, the Egyptian will be looking to add to his tally this evening as the Reds travel to Tottenham for the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final. Salah has already enjoyed one trip to north London recently, having scored twice and added another two assists when Liverpool won 6-3 in the Premier League last month.
READ MORE: 9 players could get Liverpool chance vs Tottenham as Trent Alexander-Arnold decision made
READ MORE: 4 players who left Liverpool for Real Madrid as Trent Alexander-Arnold faces tough call
Salah though would find things much more difficult if he was playing for tonight’s opponents, according to their own manager. Spurs are struggling this season, and are in desperate need of a positive result this evening to try and ease some of the pressure on Postecoglou right now.
“Mo is a world-class player, but if you put him in our team now I’m not sure he’ll have that same level of performance because of the situation we’re in as a group,” Postecoglou said ahead of tonight’s game (via BBC Sport).
“His attacking play, who do you need? You need a team that’s kind of in good form, creating opportunities, playing on the front foot, having a really solid foundation of a defense that is cohesive. None of these things exist at the moment.”
Comparing Salah to one of his own players, Postecoglou also suggested that Son Heung-min would be getting more joy if he was plying his trade for the Reds.
Mohamed Salah has been in sensational form for Liverpool this season -Credit:Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
“You’ve always got to give context. He [Salah] is playing in a fantastic team that are flying at the moment,” he explained.
“I’d hazard to say that if you put Son Heung-min in Liverpool’s team, I reckon his goalscoring return would be decent. It’s hard for our players at the moment, they’re trying awfully hard to be the best they can be.
“But when we’re at our best, I still think you’ll see Sonny’s return, in terms of his ability to score goals and be really effective for us. I don’t think that’s diminished at all.”
Liverpool.com says: Not exactly the most inspiring message for Tottenham’s players ahead of tonight’s game, is it? It almost feels like Postecoglou is throwing the towel in before the game’s even kicked off.
We get the point he’s making, and chances are Salah wouldn’t have as many goals this season if he was playing for Spurs, or any other team for that matter. We’re just not too sure Tottenham’s players will be too thrilled to hear their own manager talking about them like that, although Liverpool should be fancying its chances even more now.