Graeme Souness conceded Mohamed Salah "is a diver" who can go missing when his team need him the most.
Souness would still include him in the club's all-time XI all the same, admitting you can't argue with the numbers.
Salah netted his 212th Reds goal in their 2-0 opening Premier League victory at Ipswich, having set up Diogo Jota's opener.
Souness is a fan - but not of the theatrical side of his game
Souness
“He does dive, unnecessarily. He is a diver, but then he's not alone in that.”
“Is he going to war for you when the going gets tough and you have to turn up when it really, really matters? I think he can be accused of not doing that”
“But in saying that, I was having a bit of banter with a friend of mine, texting each other, Liverpool's greatest-ever team.
“I have to go three at the back to get him in but I have him. He has to get in, his stats would suggest that. He's class."
Souness was agreeing with Simon Jordan, who himself claimed Salah is often overrated and benefits from the quality of his team-mates
Jordan
“I know this is controversial and people will tell me what a clown I am, but I'm not a fan of Mo Salah's,"
"I think that he plays in a very good Liverpoolside that create loads of chances.
“I don't think he's as a good as people make him out to be. I think he dives, I think he can be a fair-weather player”
“Obviously he's scored loads of goals [but] when the going gets tough, some people stand up and fight and some people don't, and I just get this feeling Salah can be one of those [who don't]."
Salah has consistently proven his critics wrong during his seven-year stint on Merseyside.
He sits third in the club's all-time top scorer list. However, he may not surpass Roger Hunt in second place with 262 goals
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