Football
‘He’s Taking a Step Up’ – Ex-Ligue 1 Star Explains Why He Rates PSG Star Above Liverpool Ace Mohamed Salah
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Get to know Sushan Chakraborty betterPublished03 Mar 2025
Former Bordeaux and Lille star Rio Mavuba has said he would pick Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) winger Ousmane Dembele over Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah.
Premier League leaders and UEFA Champions League table-toppers Liverpool will lock horns with Ligue 1 front-runners PSG in the Round of 16 first leg at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday, 5th March. While the Reds waltzed their way into the Round of 16 after amassing 21 points from eight games, PSG had to beat outmuscle Brest in the playoffs to qualify.
Arne Slot has turned Liverpool into a lean, mean, winning machine, with Salah emerging as their standout performer. The Egypt international has played 39 games for the Merseysiders in all competitions so far, scoring a whopping 30 times and providing 22 assists. With 25 goals and 17 assists to his name, Salah is the leading scorer and assist provider in the Premier League this season.
PSG vs Liverpool: Pundit Explains Why He Would Pick Ousmane Dembele Over Mohamed Salah
Many believe Salah is currently the best player in the world, but former international Mavuba believes Dembele has the 32-year-old’s number.
Answering who he would pick between Salah and Dembele in his team, Mavuba said (via Foot Mercato):
“Today, I’m taking Ousmane Dembele. Why? Because he’s taking a step up and he’s younger.
“But even in a coaching sense, I’m still taking Dembele, because he manages to be decisive, even in key moments.”
After failing to live up to expectations at Barcelona, Dembele has seemingly turned over a new leaf at PSG. The jet-heeled winger has been thriving in Luis Enrique’s system, scoring goals and creating chances for fun. Since the start of the 2024-25 season, Dembele has featured in 33 games for Les Parisiens in all competitions, scoring 26 goals and providing six assists.
It is turning out to be the best season of Dembele’s career. However, to become a contender for the Ballon d’Or and The Best FIFA Men’s Player Award, Dembele must also be impactful in the UEFA Champions League. A decisive performance against six-time European champions Liverpool this week will go a long way in fortifying his chances of bagging individual honours at the end of the season.