Egypt international claims he has been “thrown under the bus” by people who want him out of the club
Mohamed Salah has openly criticised Slot and Liverpool, saying he feels “thrown under the bus” and suggesting his time at Anfield may be nearing an end after a third straight Premier League match on the bench.
The 33-year-old gave an interview following Liverpool’s 3-3 draw at Leeds United, where he was again left out of the starting XI by head coach Arne Slot. His unrestrained remarks have shown that his relationship with the manager has crashed, and his future at the club is now in doubt.
“The third time on the bench for the first time in my career,” Salah said after the match against Leeds. “I’m very, very disappointed. I have done so much for this club down the years and especially last season. Now I’m sitting on the bench and I don’t know why.”
This season has been a struggle for Salah. He has scored only five goals in 19 appearances after driving Liverpool to the league title last season and earning a new two-year deal in April worth more than £400,000 per week. Despite his dip in form, he said the decision to leave him out has felt like a personal attack.
“It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus,” said Salah. “That is how I am feeling. It is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame. I got a lot of promises in the summer, and so far, I am on the bench for three games, so I can’t say they kept their promises.”
Salah then confirmed that his relationship with Slot has deteriorated.
“I said many times before that I had a good relationship with the manager, and all of a sudden, we don’t have any relationship,” said the Egyptian. “I don’t know why, but it seems to me, how I see it, that someone doesn’t want me in the club.
“I called my mum yesterday. You guys didn’t know if I would start or not [against Leeds], but I knew. Yesterday I said [to my mum], ‘Come to the Brighton game.’ I don’t know if I am going to play or not but I am going to enjoy it.
“In my head, I’m going to enjoy that game because I don’t know what is going to happen. I will be in Anfield to say goodbye to the fans and go to the Africa Cup.”
Salah, now the third-highest scorer in Liverpool’s history, also said he feels unfairly singled out when the season has been difficult for the team as a whole.
“It is not acceptable for me,” said Salah. “I don’t know why this is happening to me. I don’t get it. I think if this was somewhere else, every club would protect its player. How I see it now is like, ‘Throw Mo under the bus because he is the problem in the team now’.
“I don’t think I am the problem. I have done so much for this club. The respect I want to get. I don’t have to go every day fighting for my position because I earned it. I am not bigger than anyone, but I earned my position.”
Asked directly whether he may leave in January, Salah said it was possible.
“In football, you never know,” said the winger. I don’t accept this situation. I have done so much for this club. I cannot say it is impossible [to fix things] but from what I feel, I have done so much for the club, I love the fans and the club so much. I don’t know what is going to happen next.”
Salah also compared how he has been treated in the media with the way other elite forwards in the league have been treated in the past.
The Egyptian said: “I remember a while ago, Harry Kane was not scoring for 10 games and everyone in the media was like: ‘Oh, Harry will score for sure.’ But when it comes to Mo, everyone is like: ‘He needs to be on the bench.’ I am sorry, Harry!
“Tomorrow, [Jamie] Carragher is going to go for me again and again and that’s fine.”
Salah also revealed he learned he would be dropped again during a meeting with Slot on Friday.
“I knew yesterday that I was not going to play so take it, swallow it and go home,” he said. “He knows my feelings. There’s no relationship between us. It was a very good relationship and now all of a sudden there is no relationship.”
He also addressed whether he regrets signing his lucrative extension in April.
“Imagine how bad that I have to answer it, honestly,” said Salah. “That hurts, even the question hurts.
“Signing for this club, I will never regret it. I thought I was going to renew here and end my career here, but this is not according to the plan.”
