In a recent episode of the BBC Match of the Day Top 10 Podcast, football legend Gary Lineker sparked controversy by suggesting that Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah is superior to Manchester United icon Ryan Giggs in the pantheon of Premier League wingers.
This contentious claim has ignited debate among fans and pundits alike, prompting a closer examination of Salah’s remarkable career and his potential standing among the league’s elite.
Lineker Sparks Controversy
Lineker, alongside fellow pundits Micah Richards and Alan Shearer, engaged in the task of ranking the top 10 wingers in Premier League history.
While Shearer positioned Salah as runner-up to Giggs, Lineker diverged, advocating for Salah’s elevation above the Welsh maestro.
He emphasized Salah’s prolific goal-scoring record and asserted that his impact transcends that of Giggs.
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Drawing from personal experience, Lineker reminisced about encountering a young Giggs at the onset of his own retirement, acknowledging the Welshman’s prodigious talent. Lineker said,
“I would’ve had him above Ryan Giggs. Ryan Giggs was amazing, what a career. I played in one of Ryan Giggs’ first-ever games and it was my last game in the English league and I thought ‘who is this kid’.
A remarkable career, there’s not much between the two, but Salah’s goalscoring ratio would be way better.”
However, Lineker contends that Salah’s goal-scoring prowess and individual brilliance set him apart, suggesting that Salah’s contributions to Liverpool’s recent successes outweigh Giggs’ achievements within an illustrious Manchester United side.
Salah Over Giggs?
Salah’s role as the focal point of Liverpool’s attack contrasts with Giggs’ integral yet ensemble role in Manchester United’s dominant teams of the past.
Lineker speculates that Salah’s adaptability would have enabled him to thrive in the revered Manchester United squads of the 1990s and 2000s, further reinforcing the notion of Salah’s superiority.
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While acknowledging Giggs’ illustrious trophy cabinet and enduring legacy, Lineker contends that Salah’s sheer talent elevates him to a higher pedestal.
Salah’s feats on the field have solidified his status as one of the Premier League’s most electrifying talents, with the potential to surpass even the most revered figures in the league’s history.
While opinions may vary, Lineker’s endorsement of Salah’s superiority over Giggs serves as a testament to the Egyptian’s remarkable impact on the Premier League.
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