Liverpool star Mohamed Salah spoke out Saturday after being left out of the team’s starting lineup for a third consecutive match.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Salah expressed confusion over where things went wrong between him and Liverpool manager Arne Slot, saying, “I had a good relationship with the manager. All of a sudden we don’t have any relationship. I don’t know why. It seems to me that someone doesn’t want me in the club.”
Per Romano, Salah continued by saying, “The way I see it … it’s you throw Mo under the bus because he is a problem in the team now.”
Salah continued by saying, “It’s very clear that someone wants me to get all the blame. The club promised in the summer, a lot of promise for me, and so far, I am on the bench for three games. All I can say is keep the promises.”
Salah also expressed uncertainty over his future with Liverpool, telling reporters, “We will see what happens. In my head I will enjoy the game, even when I don’t play. We will see what will happen. It’s at Anfield, say goodbye to the fans, go to AFCON … because I don’t know what will happen when I’m there anyway.”
The Reds played Leeds United to a 3-3 draw on Saturday, and Salah was left on the bench, not even seeing action as a substitute.
Slot previously opted to bench Salah in a 2-0 win over West Ham United on Nov. 30, and a 1-1 draw with Sunderland on Dec. 3.
Salah did come in off the bench in the second half against Sunderland, but he wasn’t used at all in the other two matches.
The 33-year-old Salah joined Liverpool in 2017 following a spell at Roma. He has gone on to enjoy enormous success at Liverpool, scoring 250 goals in 420 matches across all competitions and 188 goals in 301 English Premier League matches.
Entering this season, Salah had scored 20 or more EPL goals in five of his eight seasons at Liverpool, including 29 last season.
The talented winger has helped lead Liverpool to two EPL titles and one UEFA Champions League title. The Reds also reached the UCL final in 2018 and 2022.
Individually, Saleh has been named the EPL Player of the Season twice, including last season, and he is a four-time winner of the Premier League Golden Boot as the league’s leading goalscorer.
Salah is unquestionably among the all-time greats at Liverpool, as the Egyptian star is third in club history in goals across all competitions and fifth in career league goals scored.
While Salah’s contract had been set to expire this past summer, he signed a two-year extension with Salah back in April, meaning he is under contract through 2027.
Last season was Slot’s first as Liverpool’s manager, and everything seemed to be fine between him and Salah, as they combined to lead The Reds to the EPL title.
However, things have apparently changed this season, as Liverpool are off to a slow start with seven wins, six losses and two draws, placing them eighth in the EPL standings.
Salah has only four goals in the 13 EPL matches he has appeared in this season, but it is still shocking that one of Liverpool’s all-time greats has arguably become the scapegoat for their struggles.
Based on Salah’s comments and his standing with the club, it is fair to wonder if he may be in the midst of his final season at Anfield.