Hazard or Salah

This is only my opinion when I say this but I think many people would agree with it. When you look at the two players they have both performed fantastically. However, Hazard opted to play for Chelsea for six years in the hardest and greatest league on the planet. Having won PFA player of the year and winning titles at Chelsea, arguably he is the better player. The debate come to light when regarding his actual performances and how he influences games.

Hazard is put down often by his stats as they sometimes belittle his creative nature and effectiveness in a game. Chelsea has been on and off with great strikers for hazard to service with assists and he is no Lionel Messi when it comes to a one man team. But often he creates the initial chances for the team changing the game with his turn of pace and dropping of the shoulder. This effect he has makes him such a great player and could be the main reason why he’s being sought by the likes of Barca and Real Madrid. Don’t get me wrong, he doesn’t always get that many goals or assists which is why his greatness is limited but his influence on a game is insane especially when you look at how he was in the top three for most chances created and successful dribbles.

In comparison, Mohammed Salah, ex Chelsea, was unable to make in the prem at that time, the same time as Hazard. However, having a couple of decent, yet not amazing, seasons in the Serie A with Roma and Fiorentina brought him back to the prem. many questions were asked as Salah obviously played in an easier league than the Premier League even though the Italian league is still very good. But the first season at Liverpool was beyond insane snatching 32 goals, record breaker. This in my opinion is such an accomplishment yet I think it’s impossible to repeat it this next year or years to come especially after having such a poor World Cup with Egypt. Salah from last season tops hazard with effectiveness with his stats clearly but if you ask who is the better player I would say Eden Hazard over Salah.

Arguably they now play in an equal rated team yet Liverpool arguably have one of the best attacks in the world and if you say swap hazard with Salah then the outcome may be even greater. But if you look at the international side of these two players, Hazard is in a greater side, captains the country and gets numerous goals and assists, just look at the most recent World Cup. Leading Belgium to their greatest ever position in a World Cup. Salah lead Egypt to qualify for the World Cup after his amazing season with Liverpool but when it came to the big games, he fell flat, he is clearly the greatest player in his team but that is by a large margin so obviously it would be harder. However, losing to Saudi Arabia was a huge blow considering that Russia beat them 5-0 and they were both the lowest ranked teams in the World Cup.

So to sum this up, both players are fantastic for their retrospective clubs and countries but when it comes to ability and impact over the past years and what is still yet to come I believe that Eden Hazard is better than Salah.

Josh Richardson