An incredible start to the season has seen Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah continued to firm in Palmerbet’s EPL top goalscorer market. Cristiano Ronaldo, however, is fading fast.
Before Sunday’s blockbuster against Manchester United, football fans and pundits had begun to ask: is Mo Salah the best player in the world right now? It was a more-than-fair question. Prior to the clash, he had already scored 11 goals in his previous nine starts for Liverpool. This included six in the EPL, and five in the Champions League. Heading to Old Trafford for one of world football’s biggest rivalries, it was no secret the question could be definitively answered with a big performance.
And big performance he ensured.
Bagging a hat-trick ($21 pre-game to score 3+ with Palmerbet), Salah became the first away at Old Trafford play to achieve the feat in the EPL era. It’s also seen him into better than evens in Palmerbet’s Top Goalscorer market. Salah’s perfect outing saw him into $1.80 for the award.
https://twitter.com/OptusSport/status/1452485821102129155?s=20
Ballon d’Or bound?
There’s certainly no shortage of praise from those around him. “He’s phenomenal,” coach Jurgen Klopp said recently. “At the moment, for sure, he’s the best player in the world. I’ve got no problem mentioning that’s the case…Come on, who is better than him? We don’t have to talk about what Messi and Ronaldo have done for world football and their dominance but, right now, he is the best.”
Salah started the season as $4.50 second-favourite (behind Tottenham’s Harry Kane). He even lengthened out to $6.00 after bagging once in his first two EPL games. Since then, however, he’s whittled away at his price weekly. In fact, Salah is now considered a Ballon d’Or chance. A five-time winner, however, isn’t having as great a time of it since his EPL return…
🗣️ "He's scored goals like this before and he's performed since years at an incredibly high level."
Jurgen Klopp sees no reason why Mohamed Salah's performances for #LFC wouldn't have him in contention for the Ballon d'Or.pic.twitter.com/kGZJegGLlg
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 19, 2021
Ronaldo labouring
Things have gone pear-shaped quickly for Cristiano Ronaldo. Hailed in his return to the club that made him a star, CR7 bagged a brace in his first game back (a 4-1 rout of Newcastle) and was on the scoresheet again in his second start (against West Ham). At that point, he shortened into Palmerbet’s EPL Top Goalscorer favourite at $3.00. Since then, however, it’s been slim pickings. While scoring twice in the Champions League in that time, Ronald is now goalless in his last four EPL clashes. It’s seen him out to $8.00.
Typically, though, he remains unperturbed. Even by the fact United — before the end of October — are already out to $46 to claim this season’s title.
Cristiano Ronaldo has a message for his critics 🗣 pic.twitter.com/dVG1uFjhMZ
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) October 25, 2021
(*Prices correct at 11am Wednesday October 27)
