Arab footballers watch: Salah, Mahrez shine again

Aditya Devavrat 18:05 12/12/2017
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  • In this column, we track the best Arab players plying their trade in the Premier League and round up their performances every week.

    This season has seen Mohamed Salah show the world why he was once fancifully dubbed the ‘Egyptian Messi’, and the newly-crowned BBC African Footballer of the Year was at it again this weekend for Liverpool.

    Meanwhile, Riyad Mahrez is rediscovering his best form, and for the second straight week the Algerian makes this column for a starring role, having shrugged off the disappointing displays from earlier in the season.

    Here’s a look at how these players fared over the weekend.

    MOHAMED SALAH

    Salah was the standout player for Liverpool in their first derby clash of the season, against Manchester United, but he went one better in the Merseyside derby. The 25-year-old scored a peach of a goal to put his side 1-0 up against Everton, and was a handful against Sam Allardyce’s well-organised defence.

    It wasn’t just his goal, it was his ability to find teammates in dangerous positions, while always being a threat to Everton’s back-line himself. Indeed, it was a surprise when he was substituted with 20 minutes left to go.

    Nevertheless, this was another display that showed why he’s now the reigning BBC African Footballer of the Year. The official CAF award is sure to follow.

    KEY STATS

    Minutes – 67

    Goals – 1

    Assists – 0

    Shots – 7

    Shots on target – 1

    Pass accuracy – 84%

    Key Passes – 6

    Dribbles – 6

    Touches  75

    RATING – 9/10

    The snow couldn't cool off Salah's white-hot start to his Liverpool career.

    The snow couldn’t cool off Salah’s white-hot start to his Liverpool career.

    RIYAD MAHREZ

    The man who won BBC’s coveted award last season is starting to show the form that took him to such heights. Leicester City are just seven points behind Salah’s Liverpool in fourth place, and Riyad Mahrez is a big reason for that.

    Mahrez scored a trademark goal against Newcastle, his second in three games. By this point, Premier League defenders know not to let the Algerian cut inside them and shoot with his left foot, and yet he keeps finding a way. This was a piledriver from 25 yards out, showing the confidence Mahrez has at the moment.

    If he keeps playing like this, Leicester City will be a force to be reckoned with again.

    KEY STATS

    Minutes – 89

    Goals – 0

    Assists – 0

    Shots – 1

    Shots on target – 1

    Pass accuracy – 80%

    Key Passes – 3

    Dribbles – 1

    Touches  60

    RATING – 8/10

    Riyad Mahrez scored another stunner for Leicester City.

    Riyad Mahrez scored another stunner for Leicester City.

    AHMED HEGAZI

    Salah’s international teammate Ahmed Hegazi has been one of West Brom’s standout players this season, but Saturday’s display against Swansea was not one of his best. The defender was beaten in the air too often, including once on a point-blank header that should have been a Swansea goal. He fared better when the ball was on the ground, standing up to Swansea’s attackers well and rarely getting beaten.

    Hegazi wasn’t at fault for the goal that led to West Brom’s loss, with the failure to mark Wilfried Bony more a collective error than an individual mistake.

    Still, the Egyptian surely knows he could play better, and his form next to Jonny Evans in defence will be crucial if new Baggies manager Alan Pardew is to turn around the club’s season.

    KEY STATS

    Minutes – 89

    Goals – 0

    Assists – 0

    Shots – 1

    Shots on target – 0

    Pass accuracy – 66%

    Blocks – 1

    Tackles – 2

    Clearances  7

    RATING – 6/10

    Ahmed Hegazi didn't have his best game as West Brom lost to Swansea.

    Ahmed Hegazi didn’t have his best game as West Brom lost to Swansea.

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