Newcastle United captain Jamaal Lascelles has picked out Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino as examples of players who are on “different levels” to others.
The Liverpool duo have been sensational since joining in 2017 and 2015 respectively, making up two-thirds of Europe’s deadliest attacking unit, along with Sadio Mane.
Both Salah and Firmino have played integral roles in the Reds’ success under Jurgen Klopp, with the former scoring goals for fun and the latter leading the line in his own unique way.
The pair are world-class footballers and someone who appreciates their brilliance is Lascelles.
Speaking on the Getting Messi podcast on Tuesday [via HITC], the Newcastle skipper spoke about Salah and Firmino being among those who are truly special:
For me it’s the intelligence of the players. Every single player in the Premier League are fast, strong, sharp and physical.
But there’s a difference in the intelligence. That’s what takes teams like City and Liverpool to a different level.
The intelligence of someone like a David Silva, Aguero, Salah or Firmino – they don’t even need physical attributes as they just know their role and know football.
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It is always interesting to hear a fellow professional to speak about the brilliance of opponents, highlighting why they are considered among the best in the world.
That step up from simply being a good Premier League player to an outstanding one is huge, and both Salah and Firmino belong in the latter bracket.
Salah’s quality is more obvious, considering he has scored a remarkable 104 goals in 165 Liverpool appearances, but Firmino is also a priceless player.
His form may have dipped of late, but without him, Liverpool’s entire playing style falls apart, with the Brazilian dropping deep, working hard and creating for others.
