'How can he say that' - Troy Deeney slammed by World Cup winner for Mohamed Salah Liverpool comment

Troy Deeney has been told that he is "completely wrong" about his assessment of Mohamed Salah not being a world-class player at Liverpool. That's the view of former Arsenal, Barcelona, Chelsea and France midfielder Emmanuel Petit.

Reds star Salah became the first player in Europe's top-five leagues this season to secure 10 goals and as many assists before the international break when he set up Darwin Nunez before notching a late strike of his own in the 2-0 win over Aston Villa on November 9.

After seven successful years on Merseyside, in a period where he has lifted every top-level trophy including the Premier League and Champions League, the Egyptian is now Liverpool's all-time leading goalscorer in the top flight's current guise, with 163, which places him eighth in the overall list.

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Despite such an impressive track record and blistering form for the current leaders of both the Premier League and Champions League, former Watford striker Deeney claimed this week: "My argument has always been that I just don’t think he’s world class."

Deeney has now been taken to task by Petit, with the 1998 World Cup winner telling Casino Hawks: "Troy Deeney has said that Mohamed Salah isn’t a world-class player, but he is completely wrong. How can he say that? I like Troy but he is definitely wrong.

"Look at the season Salah has just had for Liverpool. He has had his disagreements with the club but he is incredible, fans of Egypt and Liverpool must be so proud of his achievements.

"In the Premier League everyone should love Salah, he is a humble human being and certainly a world-class player, Troy is wrong on this one. Definitely wrong."

Petit, who was part of the Premier League and FA Cup-winning Arsenal side of 1998, also believes it is too soon to suggest Kylian Mbappe would have been better served moving to Anfield over Real Madrid this summer, after a difficult introduction to life with the current Champions League holders.

Mbappe will visit Liverpool for the first time since 2018 when Madrid arrive for the Champions League clash on Wednesday but Petit thinks his compatriot's early struggles does not necessarily mean he should have signed for the Reds instead.

"It’s too early to say if Kylian Mbappe would’ve been better off joining Liverpool," Petit added. "He’s just got to show that he has the character and mental strength to put things right.

"He needs to show that he can be as strong as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo mentality to find his consistency, he needs to show that he has real character and personality on the pitch.

"This was a dressing room who had just won La Liga and the Champions League and his arrival has only brought trouble. Ancelotti was on top of the world after winning the Champions League and I think he would’ve liked two or three players to fit into his squad but no big changes.

"When you win big trophies you build happiness and bringing in big egos changes things. The biggest problem for Mbappe is having two team-mates who also want to be the star of the show and want to win the Ballon d’Or in Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr."