The Athletic FC Podcast: "Is Salah Set for the Best Premier League Season Ever?"
Release Date: February 24, 2025
Hosts: Ayo Akinwolere, Oli Kay, Simon Hughes
1. Introduction: Liverpool's Premier League Dominance
In this episode of The Athletic FC Podcast, host Ayo Akinwolere delves into Liverpool FC's commanding position in the Premier League, spearheaded by their star player, Mohamed Salah. With Liverpool leading the table by an impressive 11 points, the discussion centers around whether Salah is on track to achieve the best Premier League season ever.
2. Liverpool's Current Standing and Performance
Ayo Akinwolere opens the conversation by highlighting Liverpool's 11-point lead at the top of the Premier League, posing the question of whether their dominance has any cracks.
Ayo Akinwolere (02:35): "Liverpool fans were singing we're gonna win the league at the end of the win at the Etihad. Look they are 11 points clear at the top of the Premier League. Surely there is no catch catching them now is there?"
Oli Kay responds by analyzing recent performances, particularly the decisive win at the Etihad Stadium against Manchester City, emphasizing the team's maturity and adaptability under Brendan Rodgers and Jürgen Klopp.
Oli Kay (03:37): "It was a really, really mature, composed, resilient, intelligent, polished, incisive performance. It was, it was, I would say, measure it with their performance against Manchester City, Anfield as well in early December, that was outstanding in a different way because they had more of the ball and just dominated City in a different way."
3. Mo Salah's Exceptional Season
The episode shifts focus to Mohamed Salah, whose contributions have been monumental this season. Salah's goal and assist tallies are pushing him toward breaking records held by legends like Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.
Oli Kay (08:09): "But this season I think probably dispels the convenient, easy narrative that he doesn't do this or he does that or he's a selfish player. Look, he might be selfish at times, but he's also one of the best creative players, one of the best assisters."
Simon Hughes praises Salah's overall performance, noting his ability to influence games both with and without the ball.
Simon Hughes (09:00): "He's been brilliant on that front as well. But every time he touched the ball it just came alive. It just felt like something was going to happen."
4. Comparing Salah with Premier League Legends
A significant portion of the discussion revolves around how Salah stacks up against Premier League greats like Thierry Henry, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Luis Suarez.
Ayo Akinwolere (17:25): "This season he scored 30 goals in all competitions, 25 in the Premier League, 21 assists or assistants, as you like to call it, in all competitions and 16 in the Premier League. I mean, when you talk about Premier League greats, I'm thinking about two great seasons Thierry Henry had where he was 30 plus goals and so many assists."
Oli Kay concurs, placing Salah firmly within the conversation of Premier League all-time greats due to his sustained excellence and impact.
Oli Kay (18:00): "Salah's up there in that conversation in terms of not just hitting heights, but sustaining heights over a really, really long time."
5. Ballon d'Or Considerations
A critical analysis is provided on Salah's prospects for winning the Ballon d'Or, exploring factors like team success, individual performance, and regional recognition.
Oli Kay (23:07): "If you were saying right now who has been the best player in world football this season, I think you would say. I think you would say Salah. If you're going for an attacking player, you would say Salah."
Simon Hughes discusses the historical context and the challenges Salah faces in securing the award, including the influence of team achievements like the Champions League.
Simon Hughes (30:52): "George Ware was the last African footballer to win the Ballon d'or. Since then, we've had Zinedine Zidane winning it... So Salah would become the first... the first African footballer born in the continent of Africa."
6. Salah's Contract and Future with Liverpool
The conversation shifts to Salah's contract situation, with Ayo Akinwolere and Oli Kay contemplating the implications of his potential departure from Liverpool.
Oli Kay (35:10): "They've said everything's going to be done privately. When we've got something to announce, we'll announce it."
Simon Hughes delves into the complexities of Salah's contract, the financial considerations for Liverpool, and the broader implications of retaining or losing such a pivotal player.
Simon Hughes (40:47): "He's made it clear... It's quite unusual to see this from Liverpool because Liverpool has been so used to the top players leaving."
7. Other Player Comparisons and Team Dynamics
Kevin De Bruyne and other key players are compared to Salah, especially concerning performance consistency and injury impacts.
Oli Kay (41:19): "De Bruyne has had a major injury but he just hasn't looked the same kind of guy... it's sort of sad to see him so far diminished really."
The hosts discuss how the performances of other star players influence Liverpool's strategy and Salah's role within the team.
8. Conclusion: Future Outlook for Liverpool and Salah
As the episode wraps up, the hosts ponder the future trajectory of both Liverpool FC and Mohamed Salah. With Salah nearing the end of his contract and Liverpool striving for both Premier League and Champions League glory, uncertainty looms over the club's next steps.
Ayo Akinwolere (45:03): "If, if there's a danger that Salah leaves at the end of the season with a Premier League winners medal, potentially with a Champions League medal, potentially with Carabao cup medal. I mean that would be a, a great way to go I think, I think most Liverpool fans would have accepted that as a, as a, a glorious ending."
Notable Quotes:
- Ayo Akinwolere (02:35): "Surely there is no catch catching them now is there?"
- Simon Hughes (09:00): "He always turns up, doesn't he?"
- Oli Kay (17:25): "Assisters? Is that a word?"
- Simon Hughes (30:52): "He could finish Premier League's top scorer, could win the Ballon d'or, could win the Premier League, might even win the Champions League."
Final Thoughts
This episode provides an in-depth analysis of Mohamed Salah's extraordinary season, Liverpool's dominance in the Premier League, and the broader implications for both the player and the club. Through insightful discussions and robust statistics, The Athletic FC Podcast paints a compelling picture of one of football's brightest stars and the challenges that lie ahead.
Listeners interested in more insights from Simon Hughes can explore his biography of Salah, "Chasing Salah," and his appearances on the dedicated Liverpool podcast, "Walk On," available every Tuesday morning.