Mohamed Salah’s 2024/25 season is a statistical supernova, and with 29 goals and 18 assists, he tied the all-time Premier League single-season record of 47 goal involvements, set by Alan Shearer and Andy Cole.

One more, and he would have owned it outright. Two assists, and he would have matched the single-season assist record held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne. This is no ordinary campaign—it’s a legacy-defining rampage.

Across the Premier League’s storied history, few seasons rival Henry’s 2002/03 masterclass: 24 goals, 20 assists, and a swagger that made Highbury feel like a catwalk. That 20/20 season—20 goals and 20 assists—set a benchmark for attacking brilliance, a mark only Henry has hit.

Is Mo’s 2024/25 better than Henry’s iconic 2002/03? We’re diving into the numbers, the vibes, and the context. Grab a coffee, maybe a calculator, and let’s settle this Premier League GOAT season debate.

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The 20/20 Club: A Two-Man Mythology

The 20/20 club—20 goals and 20 assists in a single Premier League season—is football’s equivalent of scaling Everest in flip-flops. Only Thierry Henry has done it, back in 2002/03, with 24 goals and 20 assists in 37 games. It was a season of pure artistry, Henry gliding past defenders like they were cones, setting up teammates with passes that felt like poetry, and leading Arsenal to a near-title. His 44 goal involvements (goals plus assists) were a record for a 38-game season, tied only by Erling Haaland’s 2022/23 (36 goals, 8

Salah, in his completed 2024/25 season, didn’t hit 20/20, but he came close. With 29 goals and 18 assists in 38 games, he’s two assists shy of joining Henry in the pantheon. His 47 goal involvements tied the all-time Premier League single-season record set by Shearer and Cole, and he surpassed the 38-game season record held by Henry and Haaland. The man didn’t just chase history; he etched his name alongside it.

But context is king. Henry’s 2002/03 came in a grittier era, with the Premier League averaging 2.63 goals per game compared to 2024/25’s 2.87. Defenders could tackle like they were auditioning for the NFL, and pitches weren’t always bowling greens. Salah’s playing in a more open, high-pressing game where goals flow freer, but he’s also facing tactical masterminds and relentless counter-pressing. It’s like comparing a Scorsese classic to a Marvel blockbuster—both are epic, but the production values have changed.

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Crunching the Numbers: Goals, Assists, and Geeky Glory

Let’s get nerdy and break out the spreadsheets. To determine if Salah’s 2024/25 trumps Henry’s 2002/03, we’ll compare raw stats, per-game rates, and adjust for the league’s scoring environment. Buckle up—this is where the stat heads thrive.

Raw Data: The Tale of the Tape

Here’s how the two seasons stack up:

Salah’s GPG (0.763) smokes Henry’s (0.649), and his total goal involvements per game (1.237) outpace Henry’s (1.189). His APG (0.474) is lower, but 18 assists as a winger is bonkers—more on that later. With 47 goal involvements in 38 games, Salah’s tied Shearer and Cole’s all-time record and topped Henry’s 44 in 37, matching the output in one more game.

Adjusting for the Scoring Environment

The Premier League’s scoring rate has jumped 9.1% from 2002/03 (2.63 goals per game) to 2024/25 (2.87), so let’s normalize Henry’s stats to today’s context (2.87 / 2.63 ≈ 1.091):

• Adjusted Goals: 24 * 1.091 ≈ 26.18
• Adjusted Assists: 20 * 1.091 ≈ 21.82
• Adjusted Total G/A: 26.18 + 21.82 ≈ 48.00 in 37 games
• Adjusted G/A Per Game: 48.00 / 37 ≈ 1.297

Now compare:

• GPG: Salah (0.763) > Adjusted Henry (0.707)
• APG: Salah (0.474) < Adjusted Henry (0.590)
• Total G/A Per Game: Salah (1.237) < Adjusted Henry (1.297)

Henry’s adjusted per-game rate still edges Salah’s, driven by his playmaking. But Salah’s 47 goal involvements in 38 games, tying the all-time record, is obscene, especially as a winger. His goal-scoring rate comfortably beats the adjusted Henry, and his positional constraints add weight to his numbers.

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Chasing the All-Time Record

Salah’s 47 goal involvements tied the all-time Premier League single-season record set by Shearer and Cole (1994/95 and 1993/94, respectively, with 34 goals and 13 assists each in 42-game seasons). He fell one short of breaking it, but doing so in four fewer games than Shearer and Cole is a flex for the ages. He also broke the 38-game season record (44, held by Henry and Haaland) with 47.

The assist record, held by Henry and De Bruyne at 20, was in sight. Salah finished with 18, two short of tying it. He didn’t hit 20/20 or match Henry’s assist mark, but tying the all-time G/A record as a winger is a monumental achievement.

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Positional Magic: Winger vs. Striker

Let’s talk roles, because this is where Salah’s season gets spicy. Henry was Arsenal’s central striker, the tip of the spear, expected to score and occasionally drop deep to link play. His 20 assists were a bonus, but his 24 goals were par for a No. 9. Salah, as Liverpool’s right winger, operates in tighter spaces, often cutting inside to shoot or threading passes through packed defenses. Wingers typically score less than strikers—think Robert Pires’ 14 goals in 2002/03 or Ryan Giggs’ career-high 13. Salah’s 29 goals are absurd for his position, and his 18 assists rival the league’s top playmakers.

To illustrate, let’s compare Salah’s 2024/25 to other elite wingers’ peak seasons:

• Cristiano Ronaldo (2007/08, Man United): 31 goals, 7 assists (38 G/A in 34 games)
• Gareth Bale (2012/13, Tottenham): 21 goals, 4 assists (25 G/A in 33 games)
• Eden Hazard (2018/19, Chelsea): 16 goals, 15 assists (31 G/A in 37 games)

Salah’s 47 goal involvements dwarf these, blending Ronaldo’s scoring with Hazard’s creativity. Henry’s 20 assists as a striker were groundbreaking, but Salah’s 18 as a winger are arguably tougher to pull off, given the positional constraints.

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Team Impact: Salah’s Title Charge vs. Henry’s Near-Miss

Individual brilliance doesn’t exist in a vacuum—team success matters. In 2002/03, Arsenal scored 85 goals in 38 games, with Henry’s 24 accounting for 28.2%. They finished second, two points behind Manchester United, a bitter pill despite Henry’s heroics. Arsenal’s attack was stacked—Sylvain Wiltord (13 goals), Dennis Bergkamp (12), Robert Pires (11), and Freddie Ljungberg (10)—spreading the load.

Liverpool in 2024/25 scored 87 goals in 38 games, with Salah’s 29 goals making up 33.3%, a higher share than Henry’s. Liverpool’s other scorers—Luis Díaz (12), Cody Gakpo (9), Diogo Jota (6), Darwin Núñez (5)—leaned heavily on Salah’s output. Under Arne Slot, Liverpool won the Premier League title, and Salah was the engine of their triumph. His impact feels more decisive than Henry’s, especially because the Reds lifted the trophy.

The Vibe Check: Swagger, Style, and Legacy

Stats are the backbone, but football’s heart is in the vibes. Henry in 2002/03 was a vibe incarnate—silky, arrogant, untouchable. He’d nutmeg a defender, curl in a 30-yarder, and wink at the camera like he knew he was the main character. His 20/20 season wasn’t just numbers; it was a cultural moment, paving the way for Arsenal’s Invincibles. Those Nike ads, that “va-va-voom” Renault campaign—Henry was a global brand.

Salah’s vibe is different but electric. He’s a relentless machine, a winger who scores like a poacher and creates like a No. 10. At 32, he’s defying Father Time, dropping masterclasses like his 2-goal, 2-assist demolition of Tottenham in December. Off the pitch, he’s the humble superstar—devout, charitable, and adored by fans. Where Henry was a rock star, Salah’s a folk hero, his clutch gene and work rate resonating in the TikTok era.

Henry’s Arsenal were a prelude to greatness but fell short in 2002/03. Salah’s Liverpool are champions, and his 47 goal involvements were the spark. In terms of legacy, Salah’s season feels like a crescendo, while Henry’s was a foundation.

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Career Context: Salah’s Closing In

Henry’s GOAT case is ironclad: four Golden Boots, two Premier League titles, and 175 goals plus 74 assists in 258 games (0.965 G/A per game). His 2002/03 season was the peak of a career that redefined attacking play. Salah’s not far behind: 186 goals (fifth all-time), 87 assists in 301 games (0.9 G/A per game), three Golden Boots, a Playmaker award, and two titles. His Liverpool-only stats are even crazier, and at 32, he’s still climbing.

Per 90 minutes:

• Henry: 249 G/A in 21,310 minutes = 1.05 G/A per 90
• Salah: 273 G/A in 24,658 minutes = 0.99 G/A per 90

Henry edges it, but Salah’s durability—never fewer than 32 games a season—gives him an edge in the modern game’s grind.

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The Verdict: Salah’s Season Takes the Crown (For Now)

So, is Salah’s 2024/25 better than Henry’s 2002/03? The numbers say yes – just. Salah’s 47 goal involvements in 38 games tied the all-time record and topped Henry’s 44 in 37, with a better GPG (0.763 vs. adjusted Henry’s 0.732). His total G/A per game (1.237) is just shy of Henry’s adjusted 1.344, but his winger role and title-winning impact give him the edge. Tying Shearer and Cole’s 47 in four fewer games is a statement, and Liverpool’s championship seals his season’s weight.

But Henry’s 2002/03 was a revolution. His 20/20 season redefined what a striker could be, and his cultural cachet—those iconic celebrations, that Highbury statue—looms large. Salah’s season is a masterpiece of execution; Henry’s was a work of art. Salah’s failure to hit 20 assists or break the 47 G/A record outright keeps Henry’s 20/20 unique, but matching the all-time mark as a winger tips the scales.

Salah’s 2024/25 takes the crown for its raw output and team impact, but Henry’s artistry and pioneering 20/20 keep the debate alive. The Premier League’s GOAT season argument just got spicier, and Salah has cemented his place in history.

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By Nicky Helfgott – NickyHelfgott1 on X (Twitter)

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