Liverpool star Mohamed Salah sent challenge by Man City rival Riyad Mahrez on Egypt duty

Posted Saturday, June 22, 2019 by Express.co.uk

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah sent challenge by Man City rival Riyad Mahrez on Egypt duty
Liverpool star Mohamed Salah has been sent a warning by Riyad Mahrez (Image: GETTY)

RIYAD MAHREZ is not interested in comparisons linking him to Liverpool's Egyptian King Mohamed Salah - but he is hoping to beat him to Africa Cup of Nations glory.

The Algerian won his second Premier League title last season as Manchester City beat the Reds over the finish line by a single point.

Now Mahrez has his eyes on further glory this season, after already winning a domestic treble under Pep Guardiola.

The former Leicester City man was the first ever African player to win the PFA Player of the Year award during the 2015/16 season.

Two years later Mohamed Salah followed in his footsteps when he took home to accolade after firing 34 Premier League goals.

Naturally, the similarities between the two marksman have seen people draw comparisons particularly ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations where Mahrez and Salah will compete with Algeria and Egypt.

But the Man City star is not phased by the talk and claims he is focused on helping his country.

“I am not bothered at all [with comparisons with Salah]," he told Al Kass.

"I hadn’t known Salah well before he came to the Premier League. That said the two seasons he played in England were exceptional.

“He deserves all what he achieved. Regarding the comparisons, I don’t follow what goes on the internet a lot. There are several Arab players playing for big clubs and it’s normal they get compared to each other and this is a good thing. I hope to see more Arab players in Europe."

Mahrez and Salah are expected to go head-to-head again next season for the title.

The Premier League champion couldn't help but issue his counterpart a challenge ahead of the international tournament.

"And anyway we [Mahrez and Salah] now are with our national teams and we will see who will manage to help his side more in reaching further stages,” Mahrez added.

Algeria get their campaign underway against Kenya on Sunday evening.

Mahrez is joined by Salah’s Liverpool team-mate Sadio Mane in Group C, who captains Senegal.

Egypt get the tournament started when they play Zimbabwe in Group A.