Image Credit: @FabrizioRomano Twitter
Just when you thought things could not get worse for Liverpool fans after the poor last few months the club has had to experience this season, Liverpool are now in a situation where the club must choose between a club legend and the manager. Situations like this are not uncommon in football, currently it seems at Real Madrid Xabi Alonso has a seemingly volatile relationship with Vinícius Júnior and a few seasons back there was the infamous broken relationship between Erik Ten Hag and Cristiano Ronaldo which saw the footballing legend terminate his contract with the Manchester United in the middle of the season. Now Liverpool might be in a scenario similar to Manchester United’s where the club has to choose if they want to continue backing Arne Slot or part ways with one of the club’s best ever players.
What caused the breakdown?
Liverpool have been going through a very lengthy rough patch since the end of the September which has seen them win 3 of their last 12 games in all competitions. Mohamed Salah has started every Premier League game for Liverpool except for The Red's last 3 Premier League games. In Liverpool’s previous 3 games against West Ham United, Sunderland A.F.C. and Leeds United, Mo Salah was on the bench and was only utilised as a substitute once in those 3 games. Liverpool won 2-0 in the game against West Ham United where Mo Salah was an unused substitute, Liverpool then drew 1-1 against Sunderland where Salah was used as a Half-Time substitute and finally Liverpool were leading 2-0 against Leeds United only for the game to turn on its head and ended in a dramatic 3-3 thriller where once again Salah was an unused substitute. The Egyptian international has not been at his sparkling best this season with only 8 goal contributions in 19 games in all competitions however his sudden drop from the starting XI and not being utilised in 2 of Liverpool’s previous 3 league games has erupted in Salah speaking on his lack of inclusion so close before his callup to represent Egypt in the African Cup of Nations.
What did Mohamed Salah say?
Immediately following after the draw against Leeds United, Mohamed Salah was interviewed by reporters which brought to light the discourse between Salah and Arne Slot. A very disheartened Mo Salah said to reporters:
“I had good relations with the manager… and all of a sudden, we don’t have any relationships. I don’t know why”.
“It seems to be me, how I see it, someone does NOT want me at the club”.
Immediately after this statement Salah went on to reassure everyone that he bares no ill will towards Liverpool football club.
“This club, I always support this club. My kids always support it, I love the club so much and I will always do”.
Salah then went on to say that he told his parents to come watch his last game for Liverpool before he goes to Morocco for the African Cup of Nations. He further stated that he does not know if he is going to play or not however he still wants to say goodbye to the fans which could be seen as the 33-year-old suggesting that he could be on the move come 2026.
“I said to my parents: come to the Brighton game. I don’t know if I am going to play or not but I am going to enjoy it”.
“I will be at Anfield to say goodbye to the fans and go Africa Cup. I don’t know what is going to happen when I am there”
One reporter asked Salah: “What do you do with the situation now Mohamed?” Salah responded to the question with what could be seen as frustration as he talks about how he does not understand why he has been made the scapegoat for Liverpool’s problems.
“I don’t know why this happened to me. I don’t get it. If I am somewhere else, every club would protect the player”. “I don’t know why I am in this situation now. I don’t think I am the problem. I have done so much for this club…”
Salah feels he has been treated rather unfairly for his recent poor form and uses Harry Kane as an example to the double standard treatment Salah feels he is receiving from the media.
“Can I give an example? It’s silly but I am sorry. I remember a while go, Harry Kane was not scoring for ten games”.
“The media were like: Oh, Harry will score for sure. When it comes to Mo, everyone is like: He needs to be on the bench. I am sorry Harry!”
Mohamed Salah was also not afraid to call out Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher on his criticism. The Egyptian implied that Carragher will most likely try to direct criticism at him for what he has said in this interview.
“After what I have done for the club it really hurts. You can imagine, really”.
“I know the club too well, I have been here many years. Tomorrow Jamie Carragher is going to go for me again and again and that’s fine”
What happens now?
Fabrizio Romano has reported that Liverpool’s management and Arne Slot have had meetings to discuss the future of Mo Salah, they are deciding whether Salah should be out for a “short period” following his strong comments. It maybe safe to assume that the club still backs Arne Slot and are potentially looking to keep Salah out of the team after he returns from AFCON as a punishment for his comments in the interview however based on Salah’s comments, it may also be safe to assume that Liverpool might be considering their options and we may see Mo Salah on the move come January of 2026. It was also reported by Romano that Salah did in fact train ahead of Liverpool’s upcoming Champions League game against Inter Milan however it was also confirmed that Salah will not be apart of the travelling team following his statements. Will Mohamed Salah be included in the squad when Liverpool welcomed Brighton Hove & Albion to Anfield and is this the end of Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool career mode? The next few days and months will be one to watch.
