Everton’s Vitaliy Mykolenko has revealed that there is a Liverpool player he fears, ahead of the upcoming Merseyside derby.
Everton defender Vitaliy Mykolenko has acknowledged Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah as the most formidable winger he’s encountered in his career. The Egyptian marked his return from injury with a goal in Liverpool’s victory over Brentford, although he was rested for their subsequent match against Luton.
With Liverpool now focused on the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea, Everton finds themselves just outside the Premier League relegation zone, separated by goal difference. The impending Merseyside derby scheduled for March 17 at Goodison Park could be rescheduled if Liverpool advances to the FA Cup quarter-finals. This potential fixture alteration could see the two rivals clash in the latter stages of the season, likely with significant stakes on the line.
Salah proved pivotal in their previous encounter in October, netting twice, including one from the penalty spot. Mykolenko, who has faced Salah four times resulting in three losses and a draw, regards the Egyptian as his most formidable adversary.
While acknowledging other top talents like Bukayo Saka and Bernardo Silva, Mykolenko emphasized Salah’s speed and directness, describing the experience as intimidating for defenders.
“He is going with the ball really fast and he’s going straight at you. It is scary for me and other defenders. You can improve yourself and you can show you can play on this level, this top level.”
Despite this, when asked about the Premier League’s best player, Mykolenko favored Erling Haaland over Salah, citing the Norwegian’s clinical finishing showcased in recent matches against Manchester City.
“Finishing, great finishing. When we played against City recently, he scored two goals. He had two moments and he scored twice, so…”
Salah, with 15 Premier League goals and 19 in all competitions this season, remains a potent force for Liverpool. However, his availability for the upcoming clash against Chelsea remains uncertain following his omission from the squad against Luton.