Micah Richards and Daniel Sturridge quickly ran to Jamie Carragher after the sliding of the Liverpool legend in the Sky Sports studio after Liverpool's 2-0 victory over Manchester City.
The Reds took a great step towards their second title of the Premier League on Sunday with a dominant performance in the Etihad, extending their advantage over arsenal to 11 points with 11 remaining games.
Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai were in the target in a brilliant first half of the reds, with the Egyptian star scoring an assistance in the same game for the 11th time this campaign.
As such, the talk in the studio quickly resorted to the stature of Salah within the game, and whether or not the individual elite awards such as the Ballon d'Or were.
The former eaves of Los Rojos, Sturridge, began by stating that Salah wants to become “the best in the world”, although for Carragher there was an obstacle perceived in his way.
“I think the problem (is) the fact that it is with Egypt, and is probably not playing in the main tournament as such, or maybe it has a great opportunity to win, I think it is the Champions League or the main tournament.
Mohamed Salah starred in Liverpool in his 2-0 victory over Manchester City on Sunday
Jamie Carragher received criticism after not considering the Cup of Nations of Africa as an 'important tournament'
Salah is the second top scorer of Egypt of all time with 59 strikes in its 103 appearances
'Normally, the player who stands out in that, like Vini Junior and (Kylian) Mbappe at this time, Real Madrid looks very good for the Champions League.
“Liverpool will be in that conversation, but at this time (the whites) is certainly the Runner front.”
However, Carragher was quickly criticized on social networks for not including the Africa Nations Cup as an “important tournament.”
Although Salah himself has never raised the African continental title, he has ended twice in second place, doing so in 2017 and 2021.
In addition, pharaohs are the most successful team in the history of competition with seven impressive titles, and will have the opportunity to go to Crown No 8 at the end of 2025.
As such, both Sturridge and Richards rushed to correct Carragher, with Richards stating: “Just to say that AFCon is an important tournament because many people are at home saying” they are not taking seriously. “AFCON is a great tournament, only For you to know.
Carragher then replied asking if Egypt would be in dispute to win the World Cup next year, to what the former defender of Man City replied: 'No, but Affon is great, right?
'You remember when he and hand they went for it and …'
The Liverpool talisman ended second twice for Egypt in AFCon, doing so in 2017 and 2021
Rodri is the current head of Ballon d'O or after winning the Premier League and euros
Carragher then replied 'Oh God', before Sturridge closed the matter: 'It is a fact. It is a fact. It is a fact. If you win the euros or the Copa América, it is considered large, so the AFCon is at the same level. ''
With 25 goals so far this season, and Liverpool is potentially for a triplet this season (Premier League, Champions League, Carabao Cup, Salah will surely be one of the main contestants this year for the Ball of Or.
As Carragher points out, players who work well in the Champions League or international competitions generally tend to win the prize in the modern era.
The owner Rodri star appointed winner of 2022.
AFCON will return at the end of the year, with Morocco presenting the host for the second time, and Egypt will be one of the favorites to reach the end.
Next to Salah will be his rival of Manchester City, Omar Marmous, who joined the reigning champions of the Premier League in January after an impressive first half of the campaign with Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga.