Liverpool sensation Mohamed Salah enjoying the sixth-best debut season of all Premier League players already… but he’s got a way to go to catch the No1
THERE can be absolutely no question any more, Mohamed Salah simply is the signing of the season.
The Liverpool star, 26, scored again in Saturday's 4-1 demolition of West Ham to take his 2017-18 tally to 23 Premier League goals, to go with eight assists.
At "just" £36.9million, in today's market at least, that's an absolute bargain.
We're not even in March yet either and with ten Premier League games to go, Salah will be hoping to press his claim of being the greatest debutant in top-flight history.
As things stand, Salah is already sixth in the standings based on total goals involvement, with 31 in his first Premier League season with Liverpool.
Leading the way is Andy Cole, who notched an astounding 47 combined goals and assists in the 1993-94 season with Newcastle.
After signing with the Toon in the February of the season before - in Division 1 - Cole burst onto the Prem scene with 34 goals and 13 assists.
Salah has a long way to go to match that tally, however, it's worth noting Cole managed the feat in the old 22-team, 42-game season.
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Based on total goals involvement per game, Salah is in fact only marginally behind - with 1.15 goals/assists per game, to Cole's 1.18.
Only one other player in Premier League history has bettered the 1 goal/assist per game barrier in a debut season - Alan Shearer (1.03) in his first term at Newcastle.
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Overall, Shearer sits fourth in total goals plus assists on 32, behind Robin van Persie (35) in his first Manchester United season and Kevin Phillips (34) in his debut Prem term with Sunderland.
Despite only being in February, Salah is already ahead of some huge names, including Jurgen Klinsmann, Carlos Tevez and Teddy Sheringham - who all tallied 30 goal involvements.
Salah is also already level with Sergio Aguero and Les Ferdinand on 31 - with ten games to play.
Based on current projections, the Egyptian speedster can expect to reach a total of 43 goal involvements this season - should he play all remaining league games.
That tally would be miles ahead of third place in second and just four behind Cole's incredible record.
Had Salah had the luxury of playing a 42-game season, he would have reached 48 combined goals and assists, based on current projections.
That's enough to be considered the greatest debut season at any club in Premier League history...