Mo Salah's 'phenomenal' season for Liverpool explained with two key reasons as legendary Premier League striker reveals why Egyptian has become a serious Ballon d'Or contender

With over two months of the season remaining, Salah has already managed to equal the record for direct goal involvements in a single 38-game Premier League campaign, with his tally of 44 (27 goals plus 17 assists) matching Erling Haaland's in 2022-23 and Thierry Henry in 2002-03. As such, Salah has stirred debate over whether his individual season is the best in the history of the English top flight.

Against the backdrop of Salah's marvellous season and Liverpool's march towards the Premier League title under new boss Arne Slot has been the uncertainty over the Egyptian's future. His contract is up in June and has previously claimed the club have not shown much urgency to tie him down to fresh terms. He is now eligible to speak to foreign clubs over a free transfer.

Iconic striker Ferdinand, who will be part of the Sky Sports team for the Carabao Cup Final live on Sunday from 3pm, believes that Salah has been fired up by the motivation to play for a new contract, while Slot's more accommodating tactics for him compared to those of predecessor Jurgen Klopp have also been crucial to his form this season.

Ferdinand told GOAL: "I mean, is it 32 goals and 22 assists so far? That's phenomenal in anyone's book. In a year where we’re talking about if he's going to get a new contract and leave at the end of the season. I always think when you're in the position he's in at the moment, you have to perform.

"And you have to put that down to the manager as well, allowing him to play a position where he says 'you don't have to run back here, we've got players for that, you stay up there, when you get opportunities you do what you need to do'. I think the way the manager's set the team up to allow him to do that, it's been phenomenal."

Echoing thoughts shared by fellow Newcastle legend Alan Shearer earlier this week, Ferdinand also believes Salah's ability to contribute to so many goals from wide areas has led to the 'demise' of the natural centre forward.

Ferdinand added: "You talk about forwards and centre forwards and what the demise of the No.9 has been, it's been people like Mo Salah! They've shown you can play as a winger or out wide and come in and still score 30 goals and have all these assists. Everyone wants to play in that role rather than be that fella through the middle. But what he's done is absolutely phenomenal in terms of the best numbers any forward has put up."

Salah will be hoping to add another winners' medal to his collection on Sunday when Liverpool face Newcastle at Wembley in the Carabao Cup final.

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