Jamie Carragher has been slammed over an ‘incredibly disappointing’ comment he made in regards to the Africa Cup of Nations following Liverpool’s huge Premier League victory over Manchester City.
Mohamed Salah once more stole the show on Sunday, scoring and providing an assist as Liverpool beat Man City 2-0 on the Etihad Stadium to maneuver 11 points clear at the highest of the Premier League.
The conversation turned to Salah’s Ballon d’Or credentials after Liverpool’s win, with the Egyptian having fun with arguably his best-ever season at Anfield, scoring 25 goals and making 16 assists within the Premier League alone.
It was then that Carragher suggested the very fact Salah doesn’t feature in ‘major international tournaments’ may very well be the explanation he has been repeatedly neglected for the Ballon d’Or.
While Egypt have made little to affect at World Cups – only qualifying for one tournament since 1994 – Salah has helped his nation reach two AFCON finals.
‘I feel the issue [is] the very fact he’s with Egypt, and he’s probably not playing in the most important tournament as such or perhaps got a terrific probability of winning,’ Carragher said on Sky Sports.
‘I feel it’s either the Champions League or the most important tournament… normally, the player who excels in that, like Vini Jr and Kylian Mbappe at once, Real Madrid look really good going for the Champions League. Liverpool will likely be in that conversation too. At once he [Salah] is definitely the front runner.
‘If he gets more trophies and titles, that might put him above Kenny Dalglish and Steven Gerrard by way of where he ranks in Liverpool legends because at once he’s right on their shoulders.’
Responding to Carragher’s comments, fellow ex-England defender Micah Richards said: ‘I’ll just say, AFCON is a significant tournament.
‘A variety of people at home will say they’re taking that seriously. AFCON is a significant tournament, just so you already know.’
Carragher then said: ‘Egypt should not going to win the World Cup are they?’
To which Richards replied: ‘No, but AFCON is big. Remember when him and [Sadio] Mane was going for it.’
Carragher then muttered ‘oh my god’ before Richards said: ‘I’m just saying.’
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Former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge added: ‘It’s a fact, it’s a fact.
‘In the event you win the Euros or the Copa America it’s deemed to be a giant so the AFCON is in the identical level.’
Carragher’s comments were described as ‘flippant’ and ‘incredibly disappointing’ in a post on X which has been viewed greater than 1.5m times.
‘Jamie Carragher arguing that Salah being from Egypt due to this fact not capable of win a significant competition may stop him from winning Ballon d’Or,’ football fan Leo Haider wrote.
‘Micah Richards accurately points out AFCON is a significant competition. Carragher scoffs and says “seriously”. Incredibly disappointing.’
Posting a clip of the exchange, the fan added: ‘Jamie Carragher flippantly disregarding AFCON being a significant tournament on Sky Sports tonight.’
Ivory Coast won the last Africa Cup of Nations on home soil last 12 months, beating Nigeria 2-1 in the ultimate.
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