Hello, Sports Lovers! Football is one of the most popular sports around the world, and it is not uncommon for fans to compare their favorite players. In the Premier League, two players that are often compared are Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane. Both are Liverpool players and play in similar positions, but who is better? In this article, we will compare Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane in several aspects to determine who is the better player.
Background of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane
Mohamed Salah is an Egyptian professional football player who was born on June 15, 1992, in Nagrig, Egypt. Salah began his career with El Mokawloon, a club in Egypt, before moving to Basel in Switzerland in 2012. He then played for Chelsea, Fiorentina, and Roma before joining Liverpool in 2017. In his first season with Liverpool, Salah scored 32 goals in the Premier League and won the Golden Boot.
Sadio Mane is a Senegalese professional football player who was born on April 10, 1992, in Sedhiou, Senegal. Mane began his career with Metz, a club in France, before moving to Red Bull Salzburg in Austria in 2012. He then played for Southampton before joining Liverpool in 2016. In his second season with Liverpool, Mane scored 22 goals in the Premier League and shared the Golden Boot with Salah and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Scoring Ability
Goals per Season
| Season | Mohamed Salah | Sadio Mane |
|---|---|---|
| 2017-2018 | 32 | 10 |
| 2018-2019 | 22 | 22 |
| 2019-2020 | 19 | 18 |
From the table above, we can see that Mohamed Salah has consistently scored more goals per season than Sadio Mane. In the 2017-2018 season, Salah scored an impressive 32 goals, while Mane only scored 10. In the following two seasons, Mane improved his scoring ability and shared the Golden Boot with Salah in the 2018-2019 season. However, Salah still scored more goals that season.
Goals per Game
To determine who is the better scorer, we also need to look at goals per game. Here are the statistics:
| Category | Mohamed Salah | Sadio Mane |
|---|---|---|
| Goals per Game (Premier League) | 0.57 | 0.44 |
| Goals per Game (All Competitions) | 0.47 | 0.38 |
From the statistics above, we can see that Mohamed Salah has a better goals-per-game ratio than Sadio Mane in both the Premier League and all competitions. This suggests that Salah is a more efficient scorer than Mane.
Assists
Scoring goals is not the only important thing in football. Assist is also an important factor in determining a player's contribution to the team. Here are the statistics for assists:
| Season | Mohamed Salah | Sadio Mane |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-2019 | 8 | 1 |
| 2019-2020 | 10 | 7 |
From the table above, we can see that Mohamed Salah has more assists than Sadio Mane in both the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 seasons. This suggests that Salah not only scores more goals but also helps create more goals for his teammates.
Dribbling Ability
Dribbling is an important skill in football, especially for attacking players like Salah and Mane. Here are the statistics for dribbling:
| Category | Mohamed Salah | Sadio Mane |
|---|---|---|
| Successful Dribbles per Game | 1.6 | 1.4 |
| Dribble Success Rate | 57.6% | 63.8% |
From the statistics above, we can see that Sadio Mane has a slightly better dribble success rate than Mohamed Salah. However, Salah attempts more dribbles per game than Mane and is still successful most of the time. This suggests that Salah is a more daring and creative dribbler than Mane.
Defensive Contribution
Defensive contribution is also an important factor in football, especially for attacking players who need to track back and defend. Here are the statistics for defensive contribution:
| Category | Mohamed Salah | Sadio Mane |
|---|---|---|
| Tackles per Game | 0.3 | 0.7 |
| Interceptions per Game | 0.2 | 0.4 |
| Clearances per Game | 0.1 | 0.2 |
From the statistics above, we can see that Sadio Mane has better defensive statistics than Mohamed Salah. Mane makes more tackles, interceptions, and clearances per game than Salah. This suggests that Mane is a more well-rounded player than Salah, who focuses more on attacking.
Injuries
Injuries are an unfortunate part of football, and they can greatly affect a player's performance. Here are the injury statistics for Salah and Mane:
| Category | Mohamed Salah | Sadio Mane |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Injuries (2017-2020) | 3 | 2 |
| Total Days Injured (2017-2020) | 81 | 44 |
From the statistics above, we can see that Salah has had more injuries and has missed more days due to injury than Mane. This suggests that Mane is a more durable player than Salah and is less likely to be affected by injuries.
FAQs
1. Who is better, Mohamed Salah or Sadio Mane?
Based on the statistics and comparisons above, it is difficult to say who is definitively better. Both Salah and Mane are incredible players who have contributed greatly to Liverpool's success in recent years. It ultimately depends on personal preference and which player's style of play you prefer.
2. Who has won more awards, Mohamed Salah or Sadio Mane?
Mohamed Salah has won more individual awards than Sadio Mane. Salah has won the Premier League Golden Boot twice (2017-2018, 2018-2019) and was named the PFA Players' Player of the Year in the 2017-2018 season. Mane has won the Premier League Golden Boot once (2018-2019) and was named the African Footballer of the Year in 2019.
3. Are Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane friends?
Yes, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane are good friends and have a great relationship both on and off the pitch. They have been known to celebrate each other's goals and support each other throughout their careers.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane are both incredible football players who have contributed greatly to Liverpool's success in recent years. Salah is a more efficient scorer and has more assists, while Mane is a more well-rounded player with better defensive statistics. Ultimately, it depends on personal preference and which player's style of play you prefer.
See you back in other interesting articles!