Who is the better option for Liverpool: Mohamed Salah or PSG’s Kylian Mbappe?

Cameron Loftus
23 August 2021

The Reds are reported to be considering a move for Mbappe but would they be better off tying down the world-class player they already have?

Kylian Mbappe looks certain to be heading out of Paris Saint-Germain, the only question is whether it will be during this transfer window or the next.

The 22-year-old's contract with the French club runs out in 2022 and with little sign of the striker signing an extension, PSG risk losing him for free next summer.

Real Madrid have long been touted as a potential destination but with Liverpool having kept their powder relatively dry this summer, there have been reports the Reds are interested in luring the French international to Merseyside.

That may have to wait until next summer, with the Reds lacking the resources to pay a fee for the attacker.

However, with Mo Salah already among their ranks, should Liverpool ignore the temptation of Mbappe and instead tie the Egyptian down to a long-term deal?

Here at Planet Sport, we evaluate the two players and decide who represents the best option for the Merseyside club.

Value for money

Mohamed Salah - 7

Salah has performed consistently at the top level for Liverpool since returning to the Premier League in 2017. He signed for Liverpool for a fee rising to £43million and is now worth more than double that.

Now aged 28, he is in the prime of his career and under contract until June 2023.

Tying him down to a new contract, however, would mean breaking their current pay structure and a considerable rise on his already hefty £200,000-a-week wage.

Kylian Mbappe - 8

If Mbappe fails to agree a new contract with PSG he will be free to walk away in the summer of 2022 and able to sign a pre-contract agreement with another club as early as January.

The current market value of the 22-year-old is around £144million.

Even considering his current wages of close to £400,000, signing Mbappe for free would represent excellent value for money.

Passing and creativity

Mohammed Salah, Andy Robertson, Liverpool, Premier League

Mohamed Salah - 8

Salah undoubtedly has one of the best soccer brains in the world, but he does have a tendency for keeping hold of the ball too long or wanting to get past an extra player before releasing.

In 37 league appearances last season, Salah completed an average of 34.14 passes per game for a pass completion of 84% and was ranked eighth for total number of passes at Liverpool.

He created 12 big chances during the season and provided five assists, which is arguably below average for a Premier League winger.

In his whole Premier League career, Salah has 36 assists in 160 matches.

Kylian Mbappe - 7

Mbappe is known more for being a team player and has an incredibly close bond on the field with Brazilian team-mate Neymar.

Last season, Mbappe contributed seven assists in the league as PSG ended the season in second place in Ligue 1.

During his Ligue 1 career Mbappe has recorded 40 assists.

In 2020/21 he made 31 league appearances, in which he completed 774 passes, for a pass completion percentage of 81%.

He averaged 24.9 passes per game which was significantly lower than Salah. However PSG's style of play is much more direct than Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp.

Goal threat

Mohamed Salah - 9

Again, there is little to separate the two players. Both head into every match expecting to get onto the scoresheet.

Last season in the Premier League, Egypt international Salah bagged an impressive 22 league goals, finishing only behind Golden Boot winner Harry Kane and four goals ahead of third-placed Bruno Fernandes.

Salah has, though, picked up the Golden Boot on two previous occasions - in 2017/18 and 2018/19 - showing just how clinical he is in front of goal.

Salah is also Liverpool's first-choice penalty taker.

For a winger, Salah has an incredibly good goal ratio of a goal every 0.6 games, having scored 98 goals in 160 top-flight appearances.

Kylian Mbappe - 8

Mbappe topped the goalscoring charts in Ligue 1 last season with an impressive 27 goals in only 31 appearances for Paris Saint-Germain.

At the age of just 22, Mbappe has 108 league goals from 151 appearances, equating to a goal every 0.7 of a game.

This being said, Ligue 1 is not as strong as the Premier League.

Potential

Mohamed Salah - 7

At the age of 28, Salah is in his prime years, producing the effort and workrate expected of a Jurgen Klopp player.

As an integral part of a Liverpool side that won both the Champions League and Premier League in quick succession, Salah firmly ranks among the game's elite.

Can he get any better? Probably not.

Kylian Mbappe - 9

After bursting onto the scene at Monaco aged 17, Mbappe has not looked back.

Now 22, the phenomenon has won the World Cup and lifted Ligue 1 four times (once with Monaco and three times with PSG).

It's scary to think what Mbappe is capable of.

Defending and workrate

Mohamed Salah - 5

Salah is effectively the first line of defence and although he isn't shy of getting into his defensive position, tackling and workrate are not the outstanding attributes of his game.

This is perhaps reflected by his failure to pick up a booking last season and the sum total of four cards in his Premier League career.

Last season, Salah contributed little in the way of defensive actions: 18 tackles, one interception and 10 clearances.

Kylian Mbappe - 7

Mbappe is recognised for his workrate off the ball and isn't afraid to put in a tackle when required. He picked up five yellow cards and committed 23 fouls during the 2020/21 campaign.

He has impressive stamina which allows him to track back quickly and effectively when his side have been dispossessed.

Although committed to winning the ball back, Mbappe's tackling leaves a lot to be desired, with his success rate last year standing at only 36%.

Experience

Mohamed Salah - 8

Salah's career has taken him to Switzerland with Basel, Italy with AS Roma and England with Chelsea and then Liverpool.

He has played at the highest level in the Champions League in almost every year of his career and in 2019 he went on to win it with Liverpool.

It contrasts markedly with his experience on the international scene with Egypt, though he did feature for them at the 2018 World Cup.

Kylian Mbappe - 7

Mbappe has only played club soccer in his native France, but has a World Cup winners' medal for his country.

Mbappe got on the scoresheet, netting from 25 yards out in the 4-1 final win over Croatia, becoming only the second teenager to score in a World Cup final after Pele.

His four goals during the tournament earned him the award for Best Young Player.

Result

Mohamed Salah - 44

Kylian Mbappe - 46

Given his potential, Mbappe just edges Liverpool's current main man.

But given Salah has proven his worth time and again for the Reds, are they willing to risk losing a genuine world-class star on the off-chance that they may be able to attract another?

Stick or twist? Only time will tell.