Mohamed Salah is clearly the Premier League MVP this season as his objectives, assists and common wizardry continues to drive Liverpool to a runaway title win.
It’s clear and apparent he’s head and shoulders above the remainder. However is Salah having the finest MVP season in Premier League historical past?
The numbers counsel sure, however is that this particular person season extra spectacular than Erling Haaland in 2022-23? Thierry Henry in 2002-03? Alan Shearer in 1994-95? How can we measure the significance of Salah’s beautiful season for Liverpool and examine it to different standout particular person campaigns in Premier League historical past?
Under we check out why this season has cemented Salah’s legendary standing and the way it’s on observe to finish the all time MVP marketing campaign in Premier League historical past.
Numbers are off the charts as legendary standing achieved
Throughout his final Premier League outing in March Salah scored twice to maneuver degree with Sergio Aguero because the fifth-highest goalscorer (184 objectives) in Premier League historical past. He additionally turned Liverpool’s outright third-highest goalscorer in membership historical past with 243. His brilliance has been dazzling us for a lot of seasons now and his legendary standing has been confirmed.
However as for the 2024-25 season, he’s on par to interrupt the single-season file for assists and objective involvements and will probably be extraordinarily near reaching Erling Haaland’s single-season file of 36 objectives.
Proper now Salah is on tempo to attain 34 objectives and add 23 assists this season. That may be 57 objective involvements in a single season. The file is at the moment 47 set by Andrew Cole and Alan Shearer.
Salah is simply three assists away from changing into the second participant in historical past to have 20 objectives and 20 assists (Thierry Henry 2002-03) in a single-season in historical past. Add in that Salah has already set the Premier League file for many video games (11) with each a objective and assists in a single season, has equalled probably the most away objectives scored (16) in a single season and is on observe to win a record-equalling fourth golden boot, and it’s clear this season is on an entire new degree for each him and the Premier League.
Will this MVP season from Salah eclipse Haaland, Shearer, Henry and others?
Thierry Henry is the one present participant to have 20+ objectives and 20+ assists in a single season again in 2002-03 when Arsenal have been about to turn into the Invincibles the season after because the Frenchman and the Gunners have been on the peak of their powers. Alan Shearer’s mixed 47 objectives and assists delivered Blackburn Rovers the title in 1994-95 however that was in a 42-game season, not 38 like now. Erling Haaland’s record-breaking 36 objectives in a single season helped Manchester Metropolis dominate as soon as once more in 2022-23.
Others stars resembling Eden Hazard, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Didier Drogba, Kevin de Bruyne, Patrick Vieira, Eric Cantona, Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, N’Golo Kante, Roy Keane, Alisson, Virgil van Dijk, Rodri, Petr Cech, David Beckham and plenty of others might maintain up their hand when requested if that they had been the MVP in a Premier League season.
However how will you determine if it was the most effective MVP season in historical past? The great thing about it’s that it’s principally subjective. By way of stats we will take a look at objectives and assists or factors received (see under), however there are such a lot of intangibles which fold into this.
Would Leicester or Chelsea have received the Premier League title had N’Golo Kante not been round to win the ball again in midfield time and time once more? Most likely not. Would Liverpool have lastly gotten over the road in 2019-20 if it wasn’t for the star duo of Van Dijk and Alisson in protection? Unlikely. Would Man United have was a dynasty with out Eric Cantona’s mercurial skills or Roy Keane’s unbelievable drive from midfield? Nope.
With regards to factors received by objectives alone, Opta has listed the next three gamers as successful probably the most factors for his or her groups in a single season in Premier League historical past:
1. Alan Shearer — 1993-94 season — 31 objectives received Blackburn Rovers 32 factors
2. Robin van Persie — 2012-13 season — 26 objectives received Man United 27 factors
3. James Beattie — 2003-04 — 23 objectives received Southampton 27 factors
We additionally need to issue within the energy of the actual season. Does it matter that Salah is ripping it up for Liverpool with each Arsenal and Manchester Metropolis (and plenty of different conventional powers like Man United, Tottenham and even Chelsea) having a down season and means out of the title race? It needs to be an element. Does it matter that Alan Shearer and Thierry Henry put of their unbelievable campaigns when Manchester United have been on the peak of their powers underneath Sir Alex Ferguson and pushed their respective groups all the best way? It actually does.
Salah’s numbers might find yourself being the most effective in a single-season in Premier League historical past however some might argue he hasn’t had the most effective MVP efficiency in league historical past as a result of Liverpool haven’t actually had a real contender throughout the entire season. That’s fantastic. However the numbers under are telling…
Factors received attributable to Salah’s objectives and help completely important to Liverpool’s title bid
His objectives and assists have clearly been vastly essential to Liverpool sitting fairly atop the Premier League desk. However simply how priceless have they been?
If we merely take away Salah’s objectives and assists from this Liverpool facet in 2024-25 they’d be 35 factors worse off than their present whole of 70 factors. In fact, one other Liverpool participant could have possible stepped up and scored objectives or supplied assists to get a few of these factors again, nevertheless it’s unbelievable to place into context the significance of the season Salah is having.
And when it comes to the price of Salah’s objectives, in accordance with Opta his 27 objectives this season have received a whopping 20 factors for Liverpool. Salah’s objectives have additionally turned 5 attracts into wins, one deficit right into a win and grabbed some extent at each Arsenal and Man United. He nonetheless has 9 video games to go break Shearer’s file of “factors received by a single participant” by Opta’s definition and has to win 13 extra factors on his personal to safe that exact accolade this season. He’ll most likely do it.
To do all this whereas his contract is about to run out — That proves that is the all time MVP season in Premier League historical past
The actual fact Salah has had this record-breaking season amid all the world speaking about his future at Liverpool along with his contract expiring on July 1, 2025 is totally exceptional.
It’s the additional layer to this magnificent season and why it needs to be the most effective. Is Salah placing collectively one of many biggest ever seasons to depart Liverpool on a excessive and giving Reds followers the final word farewell? Or is the dangling carrot of an enormous new contract provide (from Liverpool and elsewhere) firing him to new ranges?
To have the main focus and dedication to place up these numbers and be this essential in so some ways for Liverpool — who’re within the first season underneath a brand new supervisor don’t overlook — whereas your future on the membership is up within the air makes the season Salah is having extra spectacular than something we’ve ever seen from a person in Premier League historical past. Interval.
