Football pundit Paul Merson has given his two cents on the Mo Salah and Sadio Mane debacle that has blown over since the Senegalese winger kicked off a few weeks ago.
Since the outcry of emotion by Mane, the duo have been seen laughing and joking on social media and shared a hug during our Premier League fixture against Burnley – so there’s no bad blood.
But Merson thinks that it shows the duo are too focused on their own goal-scoring records. “It might have been a bit overblown at the time – but it will happen again,” he told the Daily Star.
“When City win, they are relentless and they can win scoring five, six or seven because they share the load. But when Liverpool are winning, Salah and Mane start thinking about their own goal-scoring records.
“I know forwards are supposed to be selfish but it’s a team game. They may have made light of it since, but it happens too often.
“If you watch Liverpool, there are so many times when one of them could have passed but they take the shot on and miss. After a while that has got to annoy you.”
He then goes on to suggest Bobby Firmino is setting an example by being more creative than clinical in front of goal.
Opinion
Right – I think Merson is making a mountain out of a mole hill here. He’s talking about Mane’s reaction as if it’s a negative thing, but it shows hunger.
Two forwards, playing for the same club, should be trying to out-do each-other. Let’s not pretend the duo didn’t share the Premier League’s Golden Boot last season and weren’t grinning ear to ear.
He talks about City, for some reason, and compares their goal-scoring capabilities to ours. It’s an interesting comparison, but the Reds don’t usually have midfielders pitch in with goals.
Last season, and the one before, it was all about Mane and Salah, and it’ll likely be the same this season. It’d be brilliant to have Jordan Henderson, Gini Wijnaldum and Fabinho chip in with a goal, but that’s not their usual playing style.
In short, Merson is chatting absolute wham.