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The controversy was sparked when Anfield legend Jamie Carragher suggested success in the Africa Cup of Nations would not help Salah's cause in winning the top accolade.

Carragher has since attracted criticism for suggesting that AFCON was not a major tournament and had hampered Salah's chances of gaining recognition previously.

"If Liverpool go on to become Champions League finalists and they're winning the Premier League, he has got to be at the top of the list.

Carragher said: "I think the problem (is) the fact he's with Egypt and he's probably not playing in the major tournament as such, or maybe got a great chance of winning, I think it's either the Champions League or the major tournament."

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That prompted both Richards and Sturridge to pull Carragher up, with Richards arguing: "Just to say, AFCON is a major tournament because a lot of people will be at home saying, 'They aren't taking it serious'(

"If Salah had an average season at LFC but won the AFCON & was MVP I don't think he would win the Ballon d'Or

Because I don't think AFCON carries the weight of other tournaments