Mohamed Salah has dropped to 50th in the latest Premier League player rankings as the 2025-26 season enters a crucial final month amid thrilling title and relegation battles.
With only weeks remaining, individual brilliance is expected to determine the outcome of a highly competitive campaign.
Arsenal currently lead the table, but Manchester City could close the gap to just three points if Pep Guardiola’s side win their pivotal head-to-head clash this weekend.
Champions League and relegation races
The battle for European qualification remains intensely tight, with only eight points separating third from eighth place.
At the other end of the division, a shocking relegation scrap is unfolding.
Tottenham Hotspur currently sit in the relegation zone in 18th place, trailing West Ham United by two points and Nottingham Forest by three.
Methodology and notable omissions
The newly released top 50 list balances raw individual talent with the actual value provided to teams throughout the current campaign.
Long-term injury absentees have been entirely excluded from the selection process.
This means Hugo Ekitike misses out after the forward suffered a brutal right Achilles rupture.
Before the devastating setback, the lightning-fast attacker was on course to break into the top 10.
Salah slides down the list
Liverpool’s veteran forward barely makes the cut at number 50 after experiencing a significant late-career drop-off.
However, the Egyptian remains a potent attacking threat when analysing underlying metrics.
Only Erling Haaland, Bruno Fernandes, Bukayo Saka and the injured Ekitike have generated more non-penalty expected goals and assists per 90 minutes this term.
Other notable inclusions in the bottom ten of the rankings include Arsenal duo Eberechi Eze and David Raya, alongside Manchester City’s Matheus Nunes.
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has developed a fiercely combative history against Arsenal, marked by crucial goals and high-profile clashes in recent Premier League title races.
The Norwegian international consistently finds himself at the centre of the action whenever Pep Guardiola’s side face the Gunners.
His formidable goalscoring record in this heavyweight fixture is often matched by intense physical battles with the opposition defence.
Title-defining impacts and crucial strikes
The 24-year-old proved instrumental during City’s treble-winning campaign, scoring pivotal goals that effectively dismantled Arsenal’s championship hopes in 2023.
However, Mikel Arteta’s subsequent tactical adjustments have made life significantly harder for the prolific forward in more recent meetings.
The formidable defensive partnership of Gabriel Magalhães and William Saliba now frequently engages the former Borussia Dortmund star in bruising, unrelenting duels.
Escalating tensions and infamous incidents
Friction between the two modern rivals reached new heights during recent tempestuous encounters at the Etihad Stadium.
The Scandinavian talisman famously threw the match ball at Gabriel’s head following a late City equaliser, instantly sparking a mass confrontation.
Such aggressive flashpoints merely highlight the growing animosity between the division’s current dominant tactical forces.
As the ongoing race for domestic supremacy intensifies, the explosive dynamic between the reigning Golden Boot winner and the North London club remains a defining narrative.
Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi has completed a full takeover of Spanish fifth-tier side Cornella, potentially reigniting his historic rivalry with Almeria part-owner Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Inter Miami forward has purchased a 100% stake in the Catalan outfit located near his former home at Barcelona.
This acquisition provides the Argentine World Cup winner with a surprise avenue back into the Spanish football pyramid.
It also creates an intriguing dynamic with his long-time adversary, who purchased a 25% stake in second-tier Almeria earlier this year.
Boardroom rivalry beckons
The two clubs are currently separated by three divisions in the domestic league system.
That competitive gap could widen further if the Andalusian side secures promotion to La Liga this season.
However, these dual investments open the door for a compelling future ownership battle between the two modern-day icons.
A statement from the fifth-tier club confirmed the acquisition is designed to strengthen foundations and invest in emerging talent.
“Messi’s arrival marks the beginning of a new chapter in the club’s history, aimed at driving both sporting and institutional growth, strengthening its foundations, and continuing to invest in talent.”
“The project is guided by a long-term vision and a strategic plan that combines ambition, sustainability, and a strong connection to its local roots.”
Preparing for life after playing
The legendary forwards defined an entire era of European football during their respective trophy-laden spells at Barcelona and Real Madrid.
The 37-year-old South American remains contracted to his Major League Soccer franchise until the end of 2028.
Meanwhile, the Portuguese veteran has just over 12 months remaining on his current deal with Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr.
Both superstars are clearly laying the groundwork for substantial boardroom careers once they finally decide to hang up their boots.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has confirmed Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson will leave Anfield at the end of the season, outlining the club’s strategy to replace the departing duo.
The pair will bid farewell to supporters following the final Premier League match of the campaign against Brentford.
Robertson has been strongly linked with a free transfer to Tottenham Hotspur.
Defensive reshuffle awaits
The Scotland captain’s potential move reportedly depends on the north London club avoiding relegation to the Championship.
Focus on Merseyside has already shifted towards mitigating the loss of two foundational pieces of their recent success.
The Dutch coach hinted that an internal solution may already exist for the left-back position.
“We know Robbo and Mo are going to leave, so that means changing two players,” Slot explained on Friday.
Search for a new attacker
“We also know that Kostas Tsimikas comes back.”
Replacing the Egyptian forward presents a more complex challenge for the Anfield hierarchy.
Reports suggest RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande has emerged as a top target for the recruitment team.
The Liverpool boss remains unsure whether the club will pursue a direct stylistic match or alter their attacking profile entirely.
Focus on existing stars
“I think the first aim is to see how we are acting in the position of Mo,” he added.
“Do we want to replace with a similar player or are we going to do that differently?”
The manager emphasised the club’s healthy financial position, noting a net spend of £150m across his four transfer windows.
He also moved to quash rumours of a wider squad exodus, insisting no further imminent departures are expected.
Securing the backline
Attention will now turn to securing the future of French centre-back Ibrahima Konate.
“Of course there’s the Ibou contract situation,” Slot stated.
“There might not be such a big need of trading a lot if you don’t need to bring new players in.”
Iranian footballers Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh have thanked the Australian government for granting them asylum and vow to rebuild their sporting careers down under.
The pair were among an initial group of six players and one support staff member from the national squad offered humanitarian visas during their recent Asian Cup campaign.
While five members of the group subsequently chose to return to their homeland, Pasandideh and Ramezanisadeh decided to remain in Australia.
“We wish to express our deepest gratitude to the Australian government, and particularly Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, for granting us humanitarian protection and a safe haven in this beautiful country.”
Focus turns to A-League Women’s football
The athletes have already taken steps towards resuming their professional pathways by commencing training with A-League Women’s outfit Brisbane Roar last month.
“At this stage, our primary focus is on our safety, our health and beginning the process of rebuilding our lives.”
“We are elite athletes, and it remains our dream to continue our sporting careers here in Australia.”
Safety fears originally emerged for the touring squad after several individuals refused to sing the national anthem prior to an Asian Cup fixture.
Tensions follow anthem protest
Following the silent protest, Iranian state television heavily criticised the team, labelling the participants “wartime traitors”.
The international tournament coincided with escalating geopolitical tensions, beginning just as airstrikes were launched on Iran by the United States and Israel.
The remainder of the squad arrived back in Iran last month after completing a tense journey via the Turkish border.
Australia’s decision to offer sanctuary came after significant pressure from Iranian advocacy groups and international political figures.
Conflicting claims over asylum offers
Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed he had paperwork ready to immediately execute humanitarian visas featuring a pathway to permanent residency.
However, Iranian officials have presented a drastically different account of the events that unfolded in Australia.
Mehdi Taj, the president of Iran’s football federation, alleged that Australian police intervened on prime ministerial orders to pressure the squad into seeking asylum.
Furthermore, Iran’s head coach Marziyeh Jafari previously maintained that the travelling party wanted to return to the Middle East as quickly as possible.
Harry Kane has dismissed Real Madrid’s fury following Eduardo Camavinga’s controversial red card as Bayern Munich secured a dramatic Champions League quarter-final victory.
The German side progressed to the semi-finals after scoring twice in the dying moments at the Allianz Arena.
Their late surge followed Camavinga’s dismissal for a second bookable offence, which occurred with the aggregate score locked at 4-4.
The French midfielder was penalised by referee Slavko Vincic for throwing the ball away after a foul was awarded to Bayern.
Madrid fury boils over
The sending-off sparked outrage among the visitors, who crowded the match official after the final whistle.
England international Jude Bellingham branded the decision a joke, while veteran defender Dani Carvajal was seen screaming at the referee.
Tensions continued to escalate long after the match concluded, culminating in a post-match red card for substitute Arda Guler.
Kane shrugs off complaints
When informed of the intense anger in the opposition camp, the England captain offered little sympathy.
“I’m sure they are, but they’ve had many things go their way over the years.”
The former Tottenham striker noted that throwing the ball away while already on a booking is always a substantial risk.
“The ref made a decision, and it’s nice to get one in our favour.”
Kane, who registered his 50th goal of the campaign during the chaotic encounter, described the second leg as a uniquely special night.
Semi-final showdown awaits
Bayern will now prepare to face Paris Saint-Germain in a highly anticipated semi-final clash.
The first leg is scheduled to take place at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday, 28 April.
Expecting a demanding tactical battle, the prolific forward praised Luis Enrique’s team for their intense man-for-man pressure and individual quality.
“One of the best in Europe for sure, reigning European champions for a reason. Hopefully, we can come out on top.”
Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali has pledged to sign experienced players and admitted Enzo Maresca’s mid-season departure disrupted their campaign during a rare conference address in Los Angeles.
The Blues are currently struggling for form under new head coach Liam Rosenior.
They sit four points adrift of fifth-placed Liverpool and are in serious danger of missing out on Champions League qualification.
A dismal run of just one victory in seven league matches has severely derailed their domestic progress.
Targeting immediate quality
Speaking at the CAA World Congress of Sports, the Clearlake Capital co-founder addressed the club’s youth-focused recruitment model.
He insisted the overarching project remains in its early stages but acknowledged a pressing need for immediate quality in the transfer market.
“We’ve got to be better on a few things, to add more ready-made players at this part of the project, to take it to the next level, to be consistent over time,” Eghbali stated.
“The view is to keep, sign and retain and compensate and extend some of the world’s best players, and ultimately the view was you need eight, 10, 12, 15 elite players to win and win sustainably.”
The managerial transition
The Stamford Bridge hierarchy have faced heavy scrutiny since Maresca unexpectedly left his post on New Year’s Day.
Rosenior was brought in to stabilise the squad, but the mid-season transition has proven incredibly challenging.
“It’s not a change we wanted to make,” Eghbali admitted regarding the Italian’s exit.
“It’s a change that had a bit of a negative impact in the season, when you’re changing systems and personnel, and it’s one we’ve got to fight our way out of.”
Salvaging the campaign
Despite their recent league struggles, the west London side still have an opportunity to secure silverware.
An upcoming FA Cup semi-final offers a crucial lifeline in an otherwise turbulent calendar year.
“We still have six matches in the Premier League, and an FA Cup semi-final coming up,” Eghbali added.
“In my perspective, when you get punched in the face, you’ve got to fight back, you’ve got to stand up and fight, and it’s going to hopefully show a lot about the character of this squad.”
Liverpool are interested in signing Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Archie Gray this summer as the north London club faces a severe threat of Premier League relegation.
The Anfield side are closely monitoring the 20-year-old following an impressive individual campaign.
A formal approach is highly likely if Spurs drop into the Championship at the end of the season.
The capital club currently sit 18th in the top-flight standings with just six matches remaining to save their status.
Spurs’ relegation fears mount
Tottenham suffered a damaging 1-0 defeat to Sunderland on Sunday during Roberto De Zerbi’s first match in charge.
The Italian manager recently replaced interim boss Igor Tudor but was unable to spark an immediate revival.
Despite the team’s collective struggles, the former Leeds United prospect has remained a standout performer, making 79 appearances since his arrival.
The highly rated youngster has contributed five goal involvements, including a strike during a narrow defeat to Newcastle United in February.
Potential exodus in north London
Bayern Munich are also reportedly tracking the English talent, who has previously been described as a ‘future £100m’ asset.
Losing top-flight status would almost certainly trigger a mass departure of first-team regulars from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Club captain Cristian Romero is expected to leave after being ruled out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury.
Inter Milan have also expressed confidence in securing a deal for Italian goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.
Loan stars set for departure
Key defensive figures including Micky van de Ven and Lucas Bergvall could evaluate their options if the worst happens.
Furthermore, the club will not pursue permanent deals for loan signings Randal Kolo Muani and Joao Palhinha.
The French forward will return to his parent club, while the Portuguese midfielder will head back to Bayern Munich despite an active purchase option.