Inter Milan secured a thrilling 7-6 aggregate victory over Barcelona to book their spot in the final.
Barcelona appeared poised to reach the grand stage at the Allianz Arena after overturning a two-goal deficit to lead 3-2 in the closing minutes. ..Continue Reading
However, Inter struck a late equalizer in normal time before sealing the win in extra time, in what will be remembered as one of the most dramatic ties in Champions League history.
Either Paris Saint-Germain or Arsenal will face Inter in the final, with the two teams meeting in Paris for their decisive second leg on Wednesday.
PSG holds a narrow 1-0 advantage following their hard-fought win at the Emirates Stadium last week.
While many pundits believe Arsenal has a real chance of mounting a comeback in Paris, Salah has cautioned that they will once again be facing the ‘best team in Europe’ in PSG.
The French champions eliminated Aston Villa and Premier League winners Liverpool on their way to the semi-finals, also thrashing Manchester City during the league phase.
Luis Enrique’s side dominated Liverpool at home but still arrived at Anfield trailing by a goal after Harvey Elliott’s late strike for the Reds.
Despite the setback, PSG responded with a crucial 1-0 away win before triumphing in the penalty shootout to keep their hopes alive of lifting their first-ever Champions League title.
‘I have to be very honest, PSG were playing a very good game in the first leg,’ Salah told French outlet L’Equipe.
‘We were so lucky that Alisson had his best game in the club’s history probably. Then they came to Anfield. We were so unlucky because we hit the post two to three times.
‘That game was honestly 50/50 who deserved it more. No one could say. We played a very good second half. They played a very good first leg. Nobody here would say they deserved it 100 per cent.
‘It was their day and I shook their hands and said to their players after “congratulations, go and win” and that’s it. We faced the best team in Europe in that tie.’
Barcelona boss Hansi Flick, meanwhile, expressed his pride at his team after their semi-final defeat to Inter Milan.
‘I’m very disappointed that we’re out – but I’m not disappointed about the performance of my team. They tried everything,’ he said.
‘We’re out, but next year we’ll start again and we’ll make our fans, the club and everyone around us happy.
‘They [Inter] are a really good team, a strong team who defend well but also they have a really good striker.
‘In the second half we were really good. We gave everything but in the end it was like that and that’s what made me a bit sad.’
Liverpool fell to a 3-1 defeat against Enzo Maresca’s side in their first match since being crowned Premier League champions.
Still recovering from their title celebrations the previous week, the Reds looked sluggish, allowing Chelsea to seize the advantage early. ..Continue Reading
Enzo Fernandez opened the scoring within three minutes after a well-executed move involving Cole Palmer and Pedro Neto.
Chelsea extended their lead with 20 minutes remaining when Virgil van Dijk’s attempted clearance ricocheted off Jarell Quansah and into the net for an own goal.
Although Van Dijk managed to pull one back for Liverpool with a well-timed header from a corner, Cole Palmer’s late penalty secured a crucial win for Chelsea in their push for Champions League qualification.
Salah was unusually quiet throughout the game, and Rooney credited Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella for delivering an outstanding defensive display.
Despite enjoying a spectacular season—having netted 33 goals and provided 23 assists across all competitions—Salah was unable to make his usual impact against his former club.
‘I was really impressed with Marc Cucurella,’ ex-Manchester United and England striker Rooney said on BBC’s Match of the Day 2.
‘I really liked how aggressive he was against Mohamed Salah. He was right in Salah’s face all afternoon, he didn’t give him any time on the ball.
‘Salah can obviously hurt players if he faces you up but Cucurella didn’t let that happen. He kept winning the ball and driving forward, he didn’t really give Salah any joy.
‘I think he won the ball back nine times which was more than any other player on the pitch. He was just really aggressive and I think you need to be against Salah because he will cause you massive problems if you give him time.
‘Mo Salah can make you look silly but Cucurella didn’t fear him at all. I was really impressed with him.’
Chelsea’s decision to spend over £60m on Cucurella in 2022 raised some skepticism, but the Euro 2024 champion has since established himself as a crucial figure in the squad.
Their latest victory brought them level on points with fourth-placed Newcastle United, with just three matches left in the season.
Securing a Champions League spot remains a key goal for Maresca’s team, though Nigel Reo-Coker believes they are not yet equipped to compete at the highest level in Europe.
‘You would have to say they are still in it but there are still a lot more questions about this Chelsea team,’ the ex-Premier League midfielder told BBC Radio 5 Live.
‘Just on the game against Liverpool, they took 45 minutes to get going and then they missed some real good chances.
‘Whether it is the Premier League celebration hangover. Chelsea were let off the hook in this game. It’s going to come down to Newcastle v Chelsea next [weekend] when they play each other.
‘Whoever wins that will be the one who makes it [into the Champions League positions]. I would put my money more so on Newcastle.
‘From their performances and from the way they look. They have won the League Cup this year and they have got tunnel vision.
‘With Chelsea, there are still quite a few questions. I don’t think they are strong enough defensively.’
The debate between Mohamed Salah vs Cristiano Ronaldo Premier League Stats has often been fueled by passion, nostalgia, and loyalty. This article, however, sets aside the overall career legacies of these two stars and focuses solely on their Premier League contributions. Using verified statistics from their stints in England—Ronaldo’s time at Manchester United and Salah’s tenure at Liverpool—we present a logical and numbers-based comparison that lets the data speak for itself.
The Metrics & Limits
To keep the analysis fair and focused, we are comparing only the Premier League records of both players. By excluding data from LaLiga, Serie A, or other competitions, we remove the influence of different playing styles, opposition levels, and tactical systems across leagues. This approach allows us to concentrate on what each player has achieved in one of the world’s most competitive and physically demanding leagues.
Our analysis revolves around several key metrics: the number of appearances, goals scored, assists provided, total minutes played, goals per game, minutes per goal, and overall goal involvement per 90 minutes. One metric that often sparks debate is “big chances created” — an indicator of a player’s creative contribution by generating high-quality goal-scoring opportunities. For context, official data shows that while Cristiano Ronaldo created 7 big chances during his Manchester United era, Mohamed Salah has created a staggering 129 big chances for Liverpool in the Premier League.
Salah vs Ronaldo Premier League Stats Analysis
When we look at the raw numbers, the differences become immediately apparent. Cristiano Ronaldo made 236 Premier League appearances for Manchester United, accumulating 17,533 minutes on the pitch. During that period, he scored 103 goals and registered 37 assists, averaging roughly 0.44 goals per game. In comparison, Mohamed Salah’s record at Liverpool includes 292 appearances and 23,323 minutes played. Salah’s numbers shine further with 184 goals and 86 assists, equating to an average of 0.63 goals per game. This means that Salah finds the net more frequently and also contributes more to his team’s overall attacking output.
A useful way to visualize these differences is by considering the number of minutes each player requires to score a goal. Ronaldo averaged about one goal every 170 minutes, while Salah’s efficiency stands at approximately one goal every 127 minutes. When combined with their assist records, Salah’s overall goal involvement per 90 minutes is significantly higher than Ronaldo’s in the Premier League. This stark contrast forms the backbone of our analysis.
To summarize these comparisons, consider the following table:
Metric
Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd)
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Appearances
236
292
Minutes Played
17,533
23,323
Goals Scored
103
184
Assists
37
86
Goals per Game
0.44
0.63
Minutes per Goal
~170
~127
Big Chances Created
7
129
These numbers do more than simply display raw statistics; they tell a story of differing roles and contributions in the Premier League. While Ronaldo was known for his direct, clinical finishing at Manchester United, Salah’s game at Liverpool has been defined not only by his prolific scoring but also by his creative prowess. Salah’s high number of big chances created illustrates his integral role in building attacks and creating opportunities for his teammates—a dimension that Ronaldo’s Premier League numbers do not capture nearly as well.
Critical Evaluation – Questions Asked
This analysis naturally raises several thought-provoking questions. If some argue that Ronaldo’s overall career achievements are unparalleled, how do they address the fact that, when compared solely on Premier League records, Salah’s numbers suggest a higher scoring frequency and more creative output? Is it fair to compare a player’s global legacy with league-specific performance, or should we recognize that the Premier League represents a unique environment that highlights different strengths?
Another important consideration is the context in which these numbers were generated. The roles played by each star were shaped by the tactical systems at their respective clubs. Manchester United’s style during Ronaldo’s tenure might have limited his opportunity to create big chances, whereas Liverpool’s attacking philosophy has allowed Salah to flourish both as a scorer and a creator. Thus, one might ask: to what extent does a player’s environment influence these metrics? And if a player’s role is tailored to maximize their strengths, does that not deserve recognition in a fair comparison?
Lastly, these statistics prompt us to ponder the relationship between volume and impact. While Ronaldo’s lower big chance creation figure might seem underwhelming compared to Salah’s, his overall record—including pivotal goals in high-pressure situations—remains impressive. Yet, when evaluating pure Premier League performance, Salah’s numbers provide a compelling case for his remarkable influence on the game.
Logic Over Emotion
One of the common arguments from Ronaldo fans is that his overall career accomplishments and his ability to change the outcome of a match in critical moments should overshadow the raw numbers. However, by narrowing our lens to Premier League stats, the debate shifts. In this context, the data suggests that Salah has not only been more efficient in scoring but also more consistent in his creative contributions.
For instance, consider the discrepancy in big chances created: while Ronaldo’s 7 big chances may be viewed as a byproduct of his finishing-focused role, Salah’s 129 big chances underscore his dual-threat capability. The numbers force us to ask, how can one reconcile a player who excels in finishing with another who consistently builds attacking opportunities? And if we consider minutes per goal and overall involvement, Salah’s higher figures challenge any claim that Ronaldo’s record at Manchester United was the gold standard in the Premier League.
Moreover, the context of their appearances must be considered. Salah’s role at Liverpool involves more touches and creative freedom in a system designed to maximize his output, while Ronaldo’s contribution, although significant, was more limited in a different tactical setup. Does this mean one player is inherently better, or that their contributions are uniquely suited to their teams? The numbers suggest that, at least in the Premier League, Salah’s overall impact on his team’s attacking play has been more substantial.
Conclusion
Ultimately, this comparison of Salah vs Ronaldo Premier League Stats invites readers to reflect on what truly defines excellence in one of the world’s toughest leagues. The figures reveal that Mohamed Salah, with his higher goals per game, superior scoring efficiency, and outstanding creative contributions—particularly the big chances created—has left an indelible mark on the Premier League. Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo’s achievements at Manchester United remain impressive in their own right but, when viewed through the narrow lens of league-specific statistics, present a very different narrative.
By asking the right questions—about context, role, and the nature of impact—this analysis encourages a balanced discussion that goes beyond overall career accolades. In the end, the numbers provide a logical framework for comparison that challenges us to appreciate the unique contributions of both players while recognizing that, in the Premier League, Mohamed Salah’s record stands out as exceptionally prolific and creatively influential.
The debate may never be conclusively resolved, but by focusing solely on Premier League data, we offer a fresh perspective on two of football’s modern icons. Whether you lean toward Ronaldo’s legendary status or appreciate Salah’s record-breaking output, the truth remains that both have shaped the league in remarkable ways—each in their own distinct manner.