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Beth Lindop
LEEDS, England — Mohamed Salah excels at picking his moments.
This exceptional timing has propelled the Egypt international to great heights in football over the past eight-and-a-half years, solidifying his legacy as a genuine Liverpool legend.
Similarly, Salah’s infrequent but impactful media interactions suggest he knew precisely the storm he would unleash when he claimed he had been “thrown under the bus” by his club during their difficult spell of form.
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“Someone wants me to bear all the blame,” he remarked in a candid seven-and-a-half-minute interview following Saturday night’s match.
“The club promised me a lot in the summer. Now I find myself on the bench, which shows they haven’t honored those commitments. I once had a great relationship with [Arne Slot], but now it’s deteriorated, and I can’t grasp why. It seems as if someone doesn’t want me at the club.”
Following Liverpool’s thrilling 3-3 draw against newly promoted Leeds United, it seems almost unbelievable that a player who stayed on the bench would steal the post-match headlines. Yet Salah is exceptional, and both he and Liverpool find themselves in extraordinary circumstances.
It’s been less than eight months since Salah and head coach Slot experienced one of their career highlights, as Liverpool celebrated their Premier League title triumph at Anfield.
At that time, Salah had just signed a lucrative two-year contract extension in April after a spectacular season that saw him net 34 goals and earn numerous accolades, including the PFA Players’ Player of the Year Award.
But with Liverpool’s title defense taking a significant turn for the worse, it appears that the rapport between Salah and his manager has completely eroded, leaving their relationship seemingly irreparable. Last season, Salah credited Slot for freeing him from defensive duties, which had contributed to his breathtaking performance.
Earlier this year, Salah’s outspoken agent, Ramy Abbas Issa, praised Slot on social media, describing him as “excellent at his job.”
Now, however, with Liverpool managing only four victories in their last 15 matches across all competitions, Salah is clearly unwilling to assume the role of scapegoat for the team’s alarming decline.
“I’m not sure if someone wants me gone,” Salah stated.
“Please don’t misquote me. It’s just a feeling I have. I’ve asked but received no answers. I anticipated I wouldn’t play [against Leeds]. I just have to deal with it. Arne informed me yesterday during our meeting; he knows how I feel.”
Just days prior, Slot commended Salah’s professionalism after being benched against West Ham United, claiming he handled the situation gracefully despite his visible disappointment. This marked the first instance in over a year that the winger began a league match on the bench — coincidentally against West Ham as well — after a sideline disagreement with former manager Jurgen Klopp.
“If I speak, it may cause a stir,” he had remarked back then, knowing fully that those words would ignite controversy. Nevertheless, Salah rebounded impressively from that ordeal, going on to start 53 consecutive league matches and achieving remarkable feats.
However, the future appears uncertain for Salah. Following Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Nuno Espírito Santo’s team last Sunday, Slot chose not to include the forward in his starting lineup against both Sunderland and Leeds, where he played no part whatsoever.
Despite Salah’s declining form this season—scoring only five goals in 18 matches across all competitions—his absence clearly indicates that he is not the sole issue facing the team.
Nevertheless, his recent statements have certainly fueled unrest in a club yearning for stability amidst the turmoil.
The Egyptian star informed reporters that he has requested his family come to Merseyside for next week’s match against Brighton & Hove Albion, which he deemed could be his last appearance for the club before departing for Morocco to participate in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Given his shock statement, this might indeed mark his final game in a Liverpool kit, and speculation surrounding a possible transfer in January is poised to intensify in the coming days.
Salah’s comments appear to serve as an ultimatum to the Anfield leadership, compelling them to choose between their third-highest scorer and the manager who led them to Premier League success last season.
With Slot already feeling the heat in Merseyside, the situation is further complicated for sporting director Richard Hughes and Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG). Against Leeds, Liverpool showcased the physical and mental weaknesses that have plagued them all season, missing a vital opportunity to catch up to fourth-placed Chelsea.
An insider informed ESPN that Liverpool’s UEFA Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven last month was a “breaking point” for some within the club, although it did not directly seal Slot’s fate. It revealed concerns that had not arisen during the series of lackluster performances leading up to it.
Despite this, it is well-known that Liverpool is not a club that easily dismisses managers, and there is an acknowledgment among the staff at Anfield that the team’s struggles cannot be solely attributed to Slot. A player publicly airing grievances is unlikely to change that perspective, regardless of his status as a fan favorite.
Salah’s comments are sure to elicit an emotional response from supporters who have adored him as their “Egyptian King” for nearly a decade. However, those assessing the situation dispassionately may interpret the forward’s remarks as those of an aging star lamenting his fading influence.
This marks only the fourth occasion in his Liverpool career that Salah has engaged with the media after a match, having last done so in November 2024, when he expressed a lack of commitment to extending his contract with the club.
Those statements led to Liverpool granting Salah a new deal to keep him at Anfield; it remains to be seen if his recent comments will have the opposite effect.