Pep Guardiola Exposes Major Question over Mohamed Salah at Liverpool

There is one question that persists around Mohamed Salah. A poser that, almost five years into his Liverpool career, continues to linger.

And it isn't the one about whether or not he will agree a new contract, as perennially intriguing as that may be.

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Instead, the conundrum remains: is Salah truly appreciated by those outside Anfield?

There's no doubt Jurgen Klopp acknowledges the value of the Egyptian. So too the forward's team-mates, and without doubt the Liverpool support. The club also, even if they seemingly aren't quite yet on the same page as the player and his representatives over the longer-term picture.

Yet there is this strange sense the talent and high-level of consistency shown by Salah isn't quite as acknowledged beyond those who admire him regularly.

It was demonstrated again on Friday when it emerged the Liverpool man had been named Footballer of the Year for a second time, having first been recognised in 2018. He is one of only nine to earn the accolade on multiple occasions, and just the third Reds player after Kenny Dalglish and John Barnes to win it twice.

Yet there is this strange sense the talent and high-level of consistency shown by Salah isn't quite as acknowledged beyond those who admire him regularly.

It was demonstrated again on Friday when it emerged the Liverpool man had been named Footballer of the Year for a second time, having first been recognised in 2018. He is one of only nine to earn the accolade on multiple occasions, and just the third Reds player after Kenny Dalglish and John Barnes to win it twice.

"Congratulations to Salah," he said. "Jurgen said, they have the best keeper, the second-best second keeper in the world, the best central defender, the best holding midfielder, the best striker, so it's normal they win all the awards."