Jamie Carragher dismisses Ian Wright’s Mohamed Salah theory as “wrong,” declaring: “Bring the war on.”
Jamie Carragher has publicly disagreed with Ian Wright’s suggestion that Liverpool manager Arne Slot deliberately kept Mohamed Salah on the bench during the 3-3 draw at Leeds United earlier this month as a message to the star forward. The match at Elland Road saw Liverpool take the lead through two goals from Hugo Ekitike and one from Dominik Szoboszlai, only for Leeds to respond with three soft goals, including a last-minute equaliser. Salah, starting on the bench for a third consecutive league game, remained unused.
Following the match, Salah gave a striking interview in the mixed zone, claiming his relationship with Slot had broken down and that he had been unfairly blamed for the team’s poor form. He later hinted that Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Brighton, in which he came on as a first-half substitute for the injured Joe Gomez, could be his last appearance for the club. Interest from the Saudi Pro League and MLS is well-known, and with Salah currently away at the Africa Cup of Nations, it is unclear if he will return to Anfield after the tournament or seek a January transfer.
While Salah’s inclusion in the squad against Brighton suggested a temporary truce, reports indicate that tensions may persist. Pundits, fans, and media outlets have been closely analyzing the Leeds situation and Salah’s potential future at Liverpool.
On a recent episode of Stick to Football from The Overlap, Carragher, Wright, Roy Keane, Gary Neville, and Jill Scott discussed the matter extensively. Wright argued that Slot’s decision to leave Salah on the bench at Leeds was a deliberate “power move,” stating, “He was sending a message. You’re sitting there, and I’m going to make you sit there.”
Carragher, however, strongly disagreed, responding, “You’re wrong Wrighty… no.” He defended Slot, explaining that the manager’s focus was on securing points rather than sending a message. Carragher noted that Liverpool were 2-0 up before conceding twice, but the team quickly regained the lead, making Salah’s substitution unnecessary. He emphasized that Slot’s decisions were based on the team’s overall performance, not as a punitive measure against Salah, pointing out Liverpool’s prior losses to Manchester City, Nottingham Forest, and PSV.
Carragher concluded by stressing that the priority is the team’s confidence and results. “Mo Salah hasn’t played well recently. He’s one of Liverpool’s greatest players, but right now, it’s about the team, not individuals. Slot isn’t sending a message to anyone,” he said.