If you want expert analysis, every football fan knows not to go to Paul Merson.That’s no disrespect to the Sky Sports pundit but he just doesn’t view the game in the same way that others, like Gary Neville or Jamie Carragher, do.Back in August, Merson named Jonathan Walters as his signing of the summer.Merson was at it once again this week when he was asked to name his Premier League Team of the Season so far.Inexplicably, the former Arsenal player left out Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, the league’s top goalscorer.Merson instead went for Manchester City duo Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling as his wide players.“My wide players are obvious choices again in Sane and Sterling,” Merson said.“When you look at how much Sterling has improved under Guardiola it is incredible.”
Nobody’s arguing that Sane and Sterling haven’t been brilliant this season. But they haven’t been at Salah’s level.
The Egyptian, a £35 million signing from Roma in the summer, has scored 20 goals in all competitions - 14 of which have come in the league - and would be considered by many as the best player in England’s top flight right now.
Merson has a message for Salah
Merson has since issued a message to Salah after receiving plenty of criticism for his decision.
The 49-year-old revealed on Sky Sports today that he simply forgot about the former Chelsea winger.
"Mo Salah is a good attacking player isn't he? He did not make your Premier League Team of the Season so far," presenter Max Rushden said to Merson, per the Liverpool Echo.
Merson responded: "Yeah, I know, I apologise for that. I forgot about him!
"He would be in it, but I would put him in it for Sane if I could do it again.
"I think my team is strong but I had to put Salah in it. I'm very sorry, happy Christmas, Mo.
"He should be in it, he's top scorer in the country and Premier League - he's not even a centre-forward!"
So Merson’s revised XI reads: De Gea; Walker, Mee, Tarkowski, Alonso; De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Silva; Sterling, Salah, Kane.
Much better.