James Milner’s insight into Mohamed Salah is not just a former teammate’s tribute. It is the view of someone who shared the Liverpool dressing room with the Egyptian forward from 2017 to 2023, a period in which the pair won seven major trophies together. Speaking on a podcast with Manchester United legend Paul Scholes, Milner explained why Salah belongs in the same bracket as Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Quality That Sets Salah Apart
Milner highlighted Salah’s willingness to learn as the foundation of his success. “He was humble enough to ask questions, seek opinions, and form his own conclusions,” Milner said. That approach, according to the former England international, is what separates elite players from the rest.
Rather than assuming he already knew everything, Salah constantly looked for ways to gain an edge. Milner noted that this search covered recovery, fitness, and even extra gym work on penalty practice.
Dressing Room Discussions and a Lack of Arrogance
Milner described frequent conversations inside the Liverpool squad about how to improve. He believes this mindset is typical of a top-level player. “He didn’t have that arrogance that suggests he knows everything,” Milner added. “He wanted to gather as much information as possible.”
That humility, combined with a drive to learn, allowed Salah to keep evolving even after establishing himself as one of the world’s best forwards.
Recovery, Reading, and a Bike in the Pool
Milner offered a concrete example of Salah’s obsession with getting better. He explained that Salah would read and observe the methods used by other athletes, then quickly adopt them. At one point, Salah placed an exercise bike in his home swimming pool for recovery sessions.
“He was obsessed with becoming the best,” Milner said. That obsession, expressed through small daily choices and a constant search for marginal gains, helps explain why Salah remains in the conversation among football’s elite, alongside figures like Cristiano Ronaldo.