Jamie Carragher risks reigniting Mohamed Salah feud as Thierry Henry disagrees in Liverpool claim
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Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has risked upsetting club icon Mohamed Salah with his Ballon d'Or prediction as Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembele has been tipped for the individual accolade.
The Egyptian defied critics to enjoy a record-breaking season for the Reds last year, winning the Premier League in Arne Slot's debut season.
With Liverpool enjoying good form in the Champions League, Salah was viewed as a contender for the award after a blistering start to the last campaign, where he finished with 34 goals and 23 assists in 52 appearances.
However, PSG's elimination of the Reds in the quarter-finals handed the likes of Barcelona's Raphinha and Dembele a chance to steal a march in the running.
And after the opening round of the elite European competition, with the winner of the Ballon d'Or set to be announced on Monday, Carragher and fellow CBS Sports pundit Thierry Henry tipped the French international for the success.
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Discussing contenders, the former Arsenal striker was clear on his view, he said: "Very different [a picture of six Dembeles then pops up].
"Those are my six contenders, I don't even have to talk."
However, Carragher's list was more conservative, celebrating the success of Salah, but ultimately tipping Dembele for his role in PSG's dominance in France and maiden Champions League triumph.
"I think, for me, they're the top six players [Ousmane Dembele, Achraf Hakimi, Kylian Mbappe, Raphinha, Mohamed Salah, and Lamine Yamal] who I think I watched for the majority of last season, probably in this competition, also for their club form as well," he said.
"I think it will be Dembele on the back of the sort of season that Paris Saint-Germain had as well, but all of those players have got a decent shout [of winning the Ballon d’Or]."
The former Liverpool defender and the current star of Slot's side were embroiled in a public back-and-forth during the Egyptian's contract saga.
During an edition of Monday Night Football, the 47-year-old said: "You know what I would say.
I would say Virgil van Dijk has come out of this whole sort of situation this season as captain of the club in a higher esteem for me.
"In the way he's conducted himself, in the way of his performances on the pitch, in the way he's led the team.
"The way he was yesterday as well and he hasn't got involved in too much around this all.
It's obviously a really important time for all three players.
"But I think rather than speak about Trent Alexander-Arnold or Mo Salah I'd probably like to pay tribute to Virgil van Dijk.
"I think he's come across as a real statesman.
And fingers crossed he signs.
"But I think the other two could maybe look at Virgil van Dijk and take a leaf out of his book."
Salah quote-tweeted the post and replied: "I'm starting to think you're obsessed with me."
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