Newcastle United and England winger Anthony Gordon paid the ultimate compliment to Mohamed Salah as he couldn’t hide his admiration for the record-breaking Egyptian.
Gordon has grown into one of the most dangerous wingers in the Premier League since his breakthrough at Everton before taking his game to new levels since moving to St James’ Park. The 23-year-old has been linked with a return to Merseyside at Anfield and it appears from his comments that he’d welcome the chance to play on the opposite wing to Salah.
The England star was discussing his fellow Premier League wingers when he claimed that Salah is the best wideman to have played in England’s top-flight.
“I just think he is a machine,” Gordon said about Salah on Sky Sports. “I just think to be at the top for so long the way he has, if you look at his stats from his first season he joined Liverpool, he’s been so consistently elite.
“I play in the Prem every week being a winger, I know how hard it is. I think he is starting to (get the credit he deserves). For me, He is the best winger I’ve seen in the Premier League.”
Salah has a legitimate claim to be considered among the best Premier League players of all-time with him now in his eighth season with the Reds. The 32-year-old has 170 goals and counting in the league, with him currently 8th in the all-time top scorers, just five behind Thierry Henry one place above him.
Gordon signed a new long-term contract with Newcastle in October as the Magpies moved to secure his future. Liverpool had agreed a deal in principle to sign Gordon in the summer but Newcastle pulled the plug on the deal after finding a way to manoeuvre around PSR issues.
Anthony Gordon - Mohamed Salah
Gordon admitted his admiration for Salah
"There’s been a lot of talk this year about my future, where I’m going, where I want to go, without anyone actually asking me," Gordon told Sky Sports about speculation over his future. "Just leave me to play football. I just want to be happy, play football and I love it here. I’ve said it plenty of times.
“I think with the speculation, people assume that it’s correct, but you’ve never heard from me once that I’m unhappy at his place. I love everyone here, I love playing football here, and that was all that was.
"It has [frustrated me]. It took me away from enjoying my football this year and I think that is where the inconsistency has come from because I’ve got caught in that a little bit. But I just want to play football — especially for Newcastle."
Gordon has six goal involvements to his name so far this season as Newcastle’s stuttering start to the season has failed to click into gear before Christmas. The nine-time England international scored 12 goals and registered 11 assists in his first full campaign for Newcastle following his £45m move.