Salah vs Hazard: The Ultimate Premier League Winger Debate Rekindled

The announcement of Eden Hazard's retirement at 32 has reignited one of the Premier League's most passionate debates: who is the greatest winger of the modern era? For years, Mohamed Salah and Eden Hazard have been the gold standard for wide players in England's top flight. Their careers, though distinct in style and substance, have left an indelible mark on the league. As a football fan reflecting in 2026, I find this discussion more relevant than ever, especially with Salah continuing to break records at Liverpool while Hazard's legacy is now complete. The conversation isn't just about statistics; it's about contrasting philosophies of wing play, individual brilliance, and lasting impact on their clubs and the sport itself.

The Statistical Showdown: Peak Season Analysis

To properly compare these two icons, we must examine their best individual campaigns. For Salah, that's unquestionably his record-breaking 2017/18 season following his £34 million move from Roma. For Hazard, while many point to his PFA Award-winning 2014/15 season, his final Chelsea campaign in 2018/19 actually produced better numbers. Let's break down how they stack up across three crucial categories.

Attacking Output: The Goalscorer vs The Creator

Salah's goal-scoring prowess is undeniable—he literally doubled Hazard's output during their respective peak seasons. His transformation into a goal machine under Jürgen Klopp redefined what we expect from a winger. The Egyptian operates as an inverted forward in Liverpool's system, constantly threatening the goal from the right flank. His movement, timing, and clinical finishing have made him one of the most feared attackers in world football.

Yet Hazard's statistics reveal a different kind of excellence. His shooting accuracy of nearly 73% is astonishing for a player who attempted ambitious efforts regularly. While he scored fewer goals, his creative numbers tell another story. The Belgian's ability to make the difficult look effortless, to glide past defenders as if they weren't there, created opportunities not just for himself but for everyone around him.

Teamplay and Creativity: The Assist King

This is where Hazard truly shines. During his final Chelsea season:

• He created 15 big chances

• Completed 1,819 passes (compared to Salah's 946)

• Maintained an 85% pass completion rate

• Delivered more crosses and through balls

Hazard wasn't just a winger; he was Chelsea's creative heartbeat. His willingness to drop deep, collect the ball, and orchestrate attacks made him indispensable. The statistics highlight his involvement—he wasn't waiting for service; he was the service. His passes weren't just safe sideways balls either; they were daring, defense-splitting deliveries that unlocked stubborn defenses.

Salah, while undoubtedly creative, functions differently in Liverpool's system. His role prioritizes getting into scoring positions, making runs behind defenses, and finishing moves rather than initiating them. This isn't a criticism—it's a testament to how perfectly he fits Klopp's tactical blueprint.

Defensive Contributions: Surprising Revelations

Here's where conventional wisdom gets turned on its head. Despite Hazard's reputation for defensive indifference, his 2018/19 defensive numbers actually surpass Salah's 2017/18 statistics:

• More tackles won

• More interceptions

• More clearances

• Better aerial duel success

The only defensive metric where Salah comes out ahead is 'goals conceded'—hardly surprising given Liverpool's superior defensive record that season. This data challenges the lazy narrative about Hazard's work rate and suggests he contributed more defensively than he's often given credit for.

Beyond the Numbers: Style, Substance, and Legacy

Statistics can only tell part of the story. What makes this debate so compelling is how differently these two artists approach their craft.

Mohamed Salah: The Ruthless Efficiency

Salah represents modern football's evolution toward positionally fluid, goal-focused wingers. His game is built on:

• Explosive acceleration over short distances

• Intelligent off-the-ball movement

• Clinical finishing with both feet

• Remarkable consistency season after season

Since joining Liverpool, he's been chasing and breaking records:

• Fastest to 100 Premier League goals for Liverpool

• Multiple Golden Boot awards

• Champions League winner

• Premier League champion

His legacy is one of sustained excellence and rewriting what's possible for a wide attacker. At 34 in 2026, he's still performing at an elite level, proving his early doubters spectacularly wrong.

Eden Hazard: The Magician

Hazard's game was about artistry and joy. He embodied:

• Unmatched close control and dribbling

• Creative vision that defied defensive structures

• The ability to decide games through individual moments of magic

• A playing style that brought pure entertainment

Even Hazard himself acknowledged Salah's excellence in 2019, telling NBC Sports: "Mo Salah is one of my good friends, and he's doing something incredible. I try to look at this player and try and reach that level." This humility from one great acknowledging another speaks volumes about both players' characters.

The Modern Context: Wingers in 2026

Looking at the Premier League in 2026, the Salah-Hazard debate has shaped how we evaluate wingers today. The position has evolved into two distinct archetypes:

1. The Goal-Scoring Winger (Salah model):

2. Primary focus: Getting into scoring positions

3. Key attributes: Movement, finishing, efficiency

4. Modern examples: Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden

5. The Creative Winger (Hazard model):

6. Primary focus: Chance creation and dribbling

7. Key attributes: Close control, vision, playmaking

8. Modern examples: Marcus Rashford, Jack Grealish

Final Verdict: Appreciating Different Forms of Greatness

As Rio Ferdinand wisely said: "People try and make comparisons of who's better etc. Just enjoy them, man. We're lucky to be in this time." This perfectly captures the essence of the debate.

If you value:

• Goal production 📈

• Statistical dominance 📊

• Consistent output season after season 🔄

• Record-breaking achievements 🏆

Then Salah is your choice.

If you value:

• Creative genius 🎨

• Dribbling artistry 🤹‍♂️

• Game-changing individual moments ⚡

• Pure entertainment value 🎭

Then Hazard is your choice.

The truth is, we don't need to declare one definitively better than the other. Football is richer for having witnessed both. Salah's relentless efficiency and Hazard's magical creativity represent two equally valid, equally brilliant approaches to playing on the wing.

In 2026, as Salah continues to add to his legacy and Hazard's career becomes part of football history, what's clear is that the Premier League was blessed to have them both at their peaks. They pushed each other, inspired fans, and left us with memories that will be discussed for generations. The debate will continue, but perhaps the real winner is anyone who got to watch them play. 🏆✨

The following breakdown is based on audience and event-performance metrics referenced from Esports Charts, a widely used source for viewership and engagement data; applying that lens to the Salah-vs-Hazard debate highlights how modern legacy arguments increasingly resemble “peak vs longevity” conversations—where sustained, repeatable output (Salah’s record-level scoring seasons) often wins broad consensus, while singular, high-impact moments of brilliance (Hazard’s chance creation and dribble-driven dominance) generate the most memorable “highlight era” spikes in perception.