Garth Crooks defends Mohamed Salah criticism

BBC pundit Garth Crooks has defended his comments and omission of Mohamed Salah from his team of the year at the end of December, saying that the Egyptian was too greedy last season in particular.

Crooks quite often causes a bit of a storm with his team of the week selections and his one for 2021 was no different with Salah somehow left out despite arguably performing better than anyone else in the world for large portions of it.

Indeed, Salah even made Crooks' first team of the week for 2022 after his goal against Chelsea but, in writing the piece for the BBC, the former Spurs player explained why he stands by the team of the year call he made:

“I heard my non-selection of Mohamed Salah in my team of the year got one or two a little hot under the collar. Well, I make no apologies for that. Salah made my team of the season but crudely chased the Golden Boot award.

“His selfishness had a negative effect on Sadio Mane in particular and, in my view, had an adverse effect on Liverpool’s campaign last season – a point I made at the time.

“This season Salah looks like a team player again and his goals are coming naturally. He is no longer looking for cheap penalties and is back to the player he was the season Liverpool won the title, and that’s why he makes my team of the week."

Anfield Watch Verdict

It was a call that really did baffle many and not just Liverpool supporters, but there you have it.

Ultimately, most know that Salah is quite possibly the best footballer in the world at the moment and he is having a stellar season, with him also one of the few players to emerge from last year with credibility completely intact.

2022 could be big for him, too, and he'll be eager to be challenging for honours as much as possible.