Mohamed Salah launched a stunning attack on Liverpool manager Arne Slot after Saturday’s 3–3 draw at Leeds, claiming he has been “thrown under the bus” and hinting his legendary Anfield career may be nearing an end.
The Egyptian was left on the bench for the third successive match and, remarkably, was not used at all during the chaotic draw at Elland Road.
With Salah set to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations after next weekend’s home match against Brighton, he suggested that fixture could be his last for Liverpool if selected.
“I’m very, very disappointed. I have done so much for this club over the years, especially last season,” Salah told reporters in the mixed zone.
“Now I’m sitting on the bench and I don’t know why. It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus, that’s how I feel. It’s very clear someone wanted me to take all the blame.
“I was given a lot of promises in the summer and now I’ve been on the bench for three games. I can’t say they kept their promise. I’ve said many times I had a good relationship with the manager and suddenly we don’t have any relationship. I don’t know why, but it seems someone doesn’t want me here.”
Salah, visibly emotional, revealed that he expects the Brighton match to be a moment of farewell.
“I called my mum yesterday. You didn’t know if I was going to start, but I knew. I told my parents, ‘Come to the Brighton game.’ I don’t know if I’ll play, but I’m going to enjoy it.
“In my head, I’m going to enjoy that game because I don’t know what’s going to happen now. I’ll be at Anfield to say goodbye to the fans and then go to the Africa Cup. I don’t know what’s going to happen when I’m there.”
– Saudi interest resurfaces –
Salah is Liverpool’s third-highest goalscorer of all time, with 250 goals in 420 appearances since arriving from Roma in 2017. He has won two Premier League titles and the Champions League but has struggled badly during the club’s slump this season.
Liverpool have managed just two wins in their last 10 league matches and have slid to eighth place. Salah has scored only five goals in 19 appearances but had remained an automatic starter until last weekend’s 2–0 win at West Ham.
He came off the bench in Wednesday’s 1–1 draw at Sunderland but had little impact. Slot defended his decision to bench Salah again at Elland Road, where Liverpool led 3–2 until deep into stoppage time.
“It was more about controlling the game at 3–2, and we didn’t need a goal,” Slot said. “Normally when you need a goal, like last week against Sunderland, I brought Mo on.”
Salah has been the subject of long-standing interest from the Saudi Pro League, and a January move to the Gulf now appears a realistic possibility.
The 33-year-old signed a lucrative two-year contract extension in April after playing a key role in Liverpool’s record-equalling 20th league title win.
AFP
