Forget Salah – these 5 Liverpool players have actually been treated more unfairly by Arne Slot.
Mohamed Salah admitted he was stunned to spend the entire 90 minutes on the bench during Liverpool’s 3-3 draw with Leeds United on Saturday, 6 December. “That’s the third time. I think it’s the first time in my career,” he said. “I’m very disappointed. I’ve given so much to this club over the years, especially last season. It feels like they’ve thrown me under the bus.” His comments underline his belief that Arne Slot has treated him unfairly.
Since arriving from AS Roma in 2017, Salah has been a cornerstone of Liverpool’s modern success and a name etched into Anfield history. But with his exit looking increasingly likely, this public outburst may well accelerate the process.
Although signing him was a gamble—given his earlier struggles at Chelsea—Jurgen Klopp turned Salah into a relentless goal threat after lobbying for him over Julian Brandt. Salah also thrived in Slot’s first year, helping the club secure their second Premier League title with four games to spare. Yet he no longer appears to be one of Slot’s untouchables. And Salah is far from the only player who seems hard done by under the current regime. Here are five others who have also been treated harshly by the Dutchman.
Andy Robertson
Liverpool’s full-back department underwent major changes in the summer: Trent Alexander-Arnold left for Real Madrid, while Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong arrived. Robertson remained, but his playing time has dramatically shrunk. Despite Kerkez’s struggles this season, the experienced 31-year-old—one of the Premier League’s greatest left-backs—has barely been used. He has started just 20% of Liverpool’s league games in 2025/26, raising questions about why Slot no longer trusts him.
Jarell Quansah
The 22-year-old centre-back was sold to Bayer Leverkusen in the summer despite possessing obvious potential. With Konate and Van Dijk failing to form a reliable partnership, Quansah could have provided much-needed rotation. Slot clearly wasn’t convinced: in his Premier League debut under the new boss, he was substituted at half-time against Ipswich, with Slot criticising his duelling. From that moment on, his appearances were limited to low-stakes matches, eventually leading to his exit—ironically catching the eye of Thomas Tuchel in Germany.
Wataru Endo
Like Chiesa, Endo has quietly been one of Liverpool’s most undervalued assets. A key figure in Klopp’s final season, the Japanese midfielder has been sidelined under Slot, playing only 242 minutes across all competitions. Considering Liverpool’s defensive frailties and lack of a true holding midfielder, Endo’s absence is puzzling. His work rate and discipline could offer stability the team currently lacks.
Federico Chiesa
Chiesa is one of the few players capable of injecting urgency and unpredictability into matches, yet Slot rarely turns to him. Despite being a fan favourite and performing well in his limited opportunities—143 Premier League minutes—the Italian has struggled to win over the manager. Slot’s faint praise after Chiesa’s heroic goal-line clearance against Sunderland highlighted just how undervalued he is. Supporters feel a player with his heart and effort deserves far more trust.
Harvey Elliott
Harvey Elliott left London in 2019 to chase his Premier League dreams at Liverpool, rising from academy player to two-time league champion. But under Slot, his progress stalled. He managed only a single minute of football this season before being loaned to Aston Villa on deadline day. With Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Gravenberch and Jones all ahead of him in the pecking order, Elliott wanted to stay and compete for his place—but Slot clearly disagreed. The manager recently admitted he has hardly spoken to the 22-year-old since his departure.