‘I demoted’: Michael Owen has bad news for Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka & Liverpool’s Mo Salah

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Michael Owen hasn’t picked Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka or Liverpool star Mohamed Salah for his 2022/23 Premier League Team of the Season.

It’s that time of year, with the season coming to a close, the prizes are starting to be handed out, with both Arsenal and Liverpool leaving empty-handed. 

When Owen was asked to pick his Team of the Season, he played a diamond formation and shared that he ‘demoted’ Bukayo Saka from his team, as well as not selecting Mohamed Salah, as he told The Final Word on PL Productions (22/05/23 at 11:20 pm).

Instead, it was a front two of Manchester City’s goal-crazy machine, Erling Haaland, alongside Brentford’s ice-cool finisher, Ivan Toney, with Tottenham’s all-time top-scorer, Harry Kane, sitting in behind.

Kevin de Bruyne and Martin Odegaard are the two wide number eights, with perhaps the best number six in the world, Rodri, sitting in front of the defence. 

Newcastle’s number one Nick Pope is guarding the goal, with Kieran Trippier, John Stones, William Saliba and Luke Shaw in front of him, but no space for Saka or Salah.

“When I first picked the team, I must admit, I had Saka in that position,” said Owen.

“Then I looked at his numbers and I had a little re-think. I saw Mo Salah there. He has much better numbers. He has scored miles more goals.

“I demoted Saka because Salah, even Rashford actually, possibly on numbers, anyway, they have had better seasons than Saka.

“I thought, ‘Okay, I am going to drop Saka, then bring Toney in’. I think he has been brilliant throughout the season. Playing in a team that wouldn’t create as many chances, as the likes of Manchester City, so I thought I would throw him in there.”

WHO HAS HAD THE BETTER SEASON – SAKA OR SALAH?

For large parts of the season, Saka was being lauded as Arsenal were pushing for the Premier League title and his 13 goals and 11 assists were a big part of that.

Over on Merseyside, Liverpool were struggling to get going again and again, but somehow, Salah was continuing to chip away, with 19 goals and 11 assists to his name.

On paper, it suggests that it’s the Liverpool man that has been on top, but whilst Saka has tailed off towards the end, it could be argued that his overall performances have been better than the man on Liverpool’s right.