Exclusive: Bunting backs Carra's "selfish" Salah claim but begs Egyptian King to stay put
(Featured image: Alamy Images)
Darts icon Stephen Bunting believes Jamie Carragher was right to call Liverpool talisman Mo Salah “selfish” for the timing of his comments over a new contract.
Egyptian forward Salah, 32, went public on the Merseysiders’ failure to agree an extension with him last weekend — a statement Kop hero Carragher then strongly criticised on Monday Night Football.
And arrows ace Bunting, who is a huge Liverpool fan, agrees with his fellow Scouser’s stance, even if he is desperate to see Salah stay put at Anfield.
Bunting, speaking to Odds Now on behalf of FreeBets.com, said: “I’m behind Jamie Carragher with what he said about [Mo] Salah.
“I think he is a bit selfish coming out with comments like that just before two huge games for the club. We should be fully focused on those.
“But I can understand his frustration. As fans, we want to see the best players signed on for our club and Mo Salah is a tip-top athlete who still has another three or four years in him easily.
“He definitely deserves the contract, so I hope the club can get it sorted out.”
Salah subsequently missed a penalty against Madrid on Wednesday but it ended up being irrelevant as the Reds closed out an impressively comfortable 2-0 win over Los Blancos.
Daring to dream
Both player and fans alike will be hoping the three-time Golden Boot winner is back to his best when reigning champions Manchester City head to Anfield this Sunday.
Currently on a bizarre six-game winless run in all competitions, the Citizens will find themselves 11 points behind Liverpool if Arne Slot’s men can take all three points at the weekend.
And Bunting admits the title returning to his beloved club is starting to feel like a real possibility.
He added: “I honestly believe we can win it.
“We’re not playing our best but we’re getting good results, while other teams around us seem to be really struggling.
“We’ve just got to keep doing what we’re doing and we’ll have a great chance.
“We’re flying in the Champions League too so I can’t wait to see how it all pans out over the next few months.”
Reigning Masters champ Bunting will be hoping to have cause for celebration himself in a few weeks as he prepares for his latest tilt at PDC World Championship glory.
The popular dartist, who is a best-priced 66/1 shot to lift the title in January, will face either Scotland’s Alan Soutar or German prospect Kai Gotthardt in his opening clash.
Meanwhile, world No1 Luke Humphries is a potential quarter-final opponent should both players make it to the last eight.
Read more: Bunting plots Littler and Humphries practice sessions ahead of Ally Pally
Meet the Author
Head of Content
Matt has now been operating in the sports content and betting space for the best part of a decade, including extended stints with industry giants Betfred and LiveScore.
A qualified journalist, he began his career reporting on his beloved Carlisle United FC as a teenager and still follows the Blues avidly to this day, as much as life allows.
One of the keenest punters around, Matt is never shy of an opinion and builds the bulk of his betting portfolio around antepost football markets and PDC darts events.