Morelos ‘closes in’ on Henrik Larsson’s scoring record!

Whenever you are trying comparisons, it is best to stick to like-for-like. 

League titles, Scottish Cups and the League Cup rarely changes, the name might switch from Premier Division to SPL and SPFL but the top tier of a national league competition can be compared down the years. 

Celtic fans have two different 9-in-a-row runs to compare, the goal hauls of John Hartson, Leigh Griffiths and Gary Hooper. At the other end of the pitch the records of Artur Boruc, Craig Gordon and Fraser Forster cover a golden age of goalkeeping. 

Other than actually lifting the trophy European competitions are barely recognisable. James Forrest and Scott Brown have played in more European matches than any of the Lisbon Lions, Mikel Lustig has more European games to his name that Billy McNeill. 

? “My objective is clear – to become the top scorer in the competition.”

Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos is setting his sights becoming the Europa League’s all-time top scorer – surpassing Celtic hero Henrik Larsson.https://t.co/cT5lNVsf1a

— Clyde 1 Superscoreboard (@ClydeSSB) February 23, 2022

The modern Europa League has little comparison to the UEFA Cup that Henrik Larsson starred in. 

To reach the last 16 of the 2002/03 season Celtic had to get the better of Suduva, Blackburn Rovers and Celta Vigo in knock-out ties, in contrast Lyon have strolled to that stage in this season’s competition through six straight-forward group matches against Sevco, Sparta Prague and Brondby. Hardly a like for like. 

Back in the Larsson days teams didn’t get six qualifying matches against the giants of Gibraltar or Luxembourg to boost the stats. 

Despite playing at a far higher level in less matches Larsson leads Morelos by 40-27. After Ibrox it is unlikely that the chunky Colombian will be moving on to Barcelona or Manchester United. 

Larsson also won more than one winners medal during seven highly successful years in Scotland.