Ukrainian defender Oleksandr Zinchenko has named Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah as the toughest opponent he has ever faced.
Over the last few seasons, both of them faced each other in numerous occasions. Zinchenko often play as left-back and facing the “Egyptian Pharaoh” is a menacing job.
While taking on the FIVE YouTube channel, ManU legend Rio Ferdinand asked the 26-year-old to name the most difficult player he has ever faced. Zinchenko said :-
“I think it’s Salah, I think it’s Salah,” replied the 26-year-old. “With all my respect to the rest, to Riyad [Mahrez] as well because I played against him at Leicester. He’s [Salah] an absolutely explosive and unstoppable winger.
“What Liverpool did so well, especially when [Gini] Wijnaldum was there, because Wijnaldum is more like box-to-box. Community Shield game against Liverpool [in 2019], penalties, we won that game. Mikel [Arteta] was still there and I went to the dressing room at half-time and said ‘Mikel, what do I need to do with this?
“[Virgil] Van Dijk on the ball, he’s playing on the left-side on the right foot, without pressure, he does first touch, Wijnaldum runs behind between me and [Nicolas] Otamendi, I need to protect inside, Salah drops wide, the ball to feet and the distance between me and Salah, 50 meters. Imagine his pace against me, I’m finished. What do I need to do, there was like five balls like this in a row.
“The only one way is to ask Raz (Sterling) who was playing on the left, to come to drop a bit lower to leave Trent. If you stay with Salah it’s a big gap for Wijnaldum. And when Mo is receiving the ball at his feet and he gets the pace… it’s impossible, impossible.”
The Ukrainian is also a big fan of Salah’s exploits
Ukrainian International Oleksandr Zinchenko is a huge of the Egyptian forward and we all know what the Arsenal defender is taking about.
Salah’s record speaks for himself and with every season unfolding, he is looking like the player every Premier League clubs should be afraid of. Manager Jurgen Klopp claims the Egyptian is one of the most trickiest to player to face of this generation.
Zinchenko also speaks about Gini Wijnaldum, whose has been a monumental figure in Klopp’s success for the Reds in past few seasons. His box-to-box abilities have lacked in Liverpool squad last season.
Hence, Romeo Lavia is targetted this summer to fill in that void. Reds are desperate to sign the Belgian midfielder as Fabinho left the club for Al-Ittihad in this transfer window.
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