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West Ham United left-back Oliver Scarles has singled out Mohamed Salah as the toughest opponent he has faced so far in his career, ranking the Liverpool star alongside Pedro Neto and Jacob Murphy in his top three toughest opponents.
The young defender, who has come through the club’s academy, has been breaking into the Hammers’ first team and gaining valuable Premier League experience, having made 16 appearances across all competitions this season.
The 20-year-old came up against Salah during West Ham’s 2-1 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield in the 2024/25 campaign, with the Egyptian registering an assist in that encounter.
Scarles faced Neto when he came on as a late substitute against Chelsea in January, having entered the pitch in the 81st minute, while he had already gone up against the Portuguese winger last season when Neto scored the winner at Stamford Bridge, proving a tough test for the young defender.
He also lined up against Murphy last season, playing the full match as Newcastle United secured a 1-0 win at the London Stadium, in what was another demanding outing for the left-back.
Reflecting on his experiences, Scarles highlighted Salah as a standout, pointing to the Liverpool forward’s physical and technical qualities, also naming Neto and Murphy among the most difficult opponents he has faced.
He stressed that Salah’s combination of strength, pace and agility makes him particularly difficult to handle, and praised Neto’s quick feet and Murphy’s quality.
| Level | First capped |
|---|---|
| England U15s | 2020 |
| England U16s | 2021 |
| England U17s | 2021 |
| England U18s | 2023 |
| England U20s | 2025 |
Scarles told West Ham’s official website: “Mohamed Salah is number one.
“He’s strong, he’s quick, he’s agile, and you can see that in the stats that he got last season.
“I’d have to say probably Pedro Neto.
“I didn’t play long against him when we played Chelsea away last season, but he’s very quick, has fast feet, and is a very good player.
“Jacob Murphy deserves a mention, too!”
Scarles made his senior debut for West Ham in November 2022, starting against FCSB in the Conference League under David Moyes, and his Premier League debut came against Bournemouth in December 2024.
Summer signing El Hadji Malick Diouf is the first-choice left-back for West Ham this season and has registered the second most assists in the squad, limiting Scarles’ regular starting opportunities.
The Hammers are currently in the relegation zone in the Premier League, sitting 18th after 31 games with 29 points, just one point behind 17th-placed Tottenham Hotspur.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are struggling for consistency, having won just one of their last five matches, and will need a strong run of results to secure their top-flight status, especially with challenging fixtures, including a clash against table-toppers Arsenal, still to come.
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