Liverpool legend says Premier League scoring machine reminds him of Lionel Messi

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Having played in well over 700 fixtures as a defender for Liverpool in his storied career, Jamie Carragher has as good an insight as any as to what makes a striker great. But his most recent analysis of Leicester City’s scoring phenom Riyad Mahrez could very well make all football clubs across Europe interested in him a little bit more.

According to the Daily Mail, the Liverpool legend has compared Mahrez to Barcelona ace Lionel Messi, complimenting the Algerian striker on his remarkable footwork – reminiscent of Messi’s – en route to 13 goals with seven assists through the half-way point of the season.

“The Algeria forward is outperforming everyone in the (English) division at the moment.

“I highlighted him in last week’s column, for how he reminds me of Barcelona’s Lionel Messi in the way he cuts off the right flank to shoot with his left foot, and his record for 2015, scoring 15 times and eight assists, is outstanding.

“Don’t think, though, that he has only started performing since Claudio Ranieri arrived at Leicester. Mahrez was a key figure under Nigel Pearson in the fight against relegation.

“The two goals he scored against Southampton on May 9 effectively secured their Premier League status. He has more to give.”

Mahrez is currently tied for second in the Premier League in scoring behind his teammate Jamie Vardy. He has contributed to two scores or more seven times this year and contributed to at least one goal in 13 matches this season – numbers that on their face certainly appear Messi-like.

Leicester City lost to Liverpool this past weekend in a surprising 1-0 defeat at Anfield, their first time getting shut out of a match in any contest this season.

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