Mo Salah criticises Arne Slot and claims he’s been ‘left to take the blame’.
Liverpool star Mohamed Salah has taken aim at Arne Slot in a fierce post-match interview following the 3-3 draw with Leeds United.
On Saturday evening, Liverpool squandered a 2-0 advantage and ended up drawing 3-3 with newly promoted Leeds at Elland Road.
Before kick-off, Slot surprised supporters by once again leaving Salah out of the starting XI, even though the Egyptian winger will soon head off for AFCON duty. It was the third straight match in which Slot decided to bench him.
Now, Salah has finally broken his silence, addressing his limited game time in a remarkably blunt interview. His last start came in the 4-1 Champions League defeat to PSV Eindhoven on November 26. Since then, many have urged Slot to drop him entirely due to his dip in form, despite Salah having won the PFA Player of the Year just months earlier.
Salah said he feels the club is “throwing him under the bus,” despite everything he has done for Liverpool.
After the match, he said:
“I can’t believe it. I’m very, very disappointed. I’ve given so much to this club over the years, especially last season. Now I’m on the bench and I don’t know why. It feels like the club has thrown me under the bus. That’s how it seems to me. It’s clear that someone wants me to take all the blame.”
The Liverpool icon also hinted at a breakdown in his relationship with Slot, claiming someone within the club no longer wants him there.
He continued:
“I got a lot of promises in the summer and now I’ve been on the bench for three games, so I can’t say those promises were kept. I said many times that I had a good relationship with the manager, and suddenly we have no relationship at all. I don’t know why, but it looks to me like someone doesn’t want me at the club.”
Salah also revealed that he plans to treat Liverpool’s next home game — against Brighton on Saturday, December 13 — as a potential farewell before heading to AFCON with Egypt.
He said:
“Yesterday 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 mind, I’m treating it like a goodbye because I don’t know what will happen next. I’ll be at Anfield to say goodbye to the fans before leaving for the Africa Cup of Nations. I don’t know what will happen while I’m there.”
Salah has frequently been linked with a big-money transfer to the Saudi Pro League, and he did not rule it out given how frustrated he feels with his current situation.
“In football, you never know,” he said. “I don’t accept what’s happening now. I’ve done so much for this club. I don’t want to answer questions about Saudi because the club will twist it in another direction.”