Mohamed Salah’s Post-Match Actions After the 3-3 Draw at Leeds Say a Lot
Footage of Mohamed Salah’s behaviour after Liverpool’s 3-3 draw with Leeds United on Saturday says a lot about his current state of mind. The Premier League’s reigning Player of the Season has been left out of the starting lineup for the last three matches, featuring only once as a substitute during a stretch in which Liverpool have managed just one win and two draws.
It now seems Arne Slot is discovering the hard truth behind the phrase “play stupid games, win stupid prizes.” Salah’s explosive interview—delivered barely a week before he departs for AFCON—was certainly no prize. Instead, it has plunged both his future and that of his manager into uncertainty. The Egyptian has accused Slot of “throwing him under the bus” and has openly spoken about a complete breakdown in their relationship.
Liverpool have won only one of their last six games in all competitions, and since September their Premier League form ranks 18th—relegation territory. There’s no way to mask the crisis the defending champions are in, and the chances of Salah being sold in January without a proper goodbye appear to be growing.
Salah’s Post-Match Actions at Elland Road
After Liverpool squandered both a 2-0 and a 3-2 lead, failing to climb into fifth, Salah stayed out on the pitch longer than usual. He eventually went to applaud the travelling supporters, then waved—something that looked very much like a possible farewell gesture.
Another interpretation is that he was simply acknowledging his upcoming AFCON departure. But with Egypt not expecting him until December 15, the combination of that footage and his explosive interview suggests he genuinely doesn’t know what comes next.
His claim that he has invited his family to Anfield for next weekend’s home game against Brighton only fuels the speculation.
Salah’s Interview Sends Shockwaves Through Anfield
Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes now face their toughest period yet in charge of Liverpool’s football operations. Salah’s remarks effectively corner them: either dismiss Slot and appoint someone capable of quickly restoring harmony and performance, or risk losing Salah to Saudi Arabia in January for a cut-price fee—and without the farewell he deserves.
While no individual is bigger than the club, Salah’s comments highlight a possible loss of dressing-room support for Slot, with Richard Keys even hinting that another “very, VERY senior player” is unhappy behind the scenes. In retrospect, the handling of Federico Chiesa only strengthens the argument that Slot may have mismanaged parts of the squad.
Liverpool must now make tough decisions to stop the situation spiralling any further. But this saga appears far from finished as the Anfield hierarchy works out its next steps.