Mohamed Salah took aim at Liverpool manager Arne Slot in an astonishing tirade that could spell the end of his legendary Anfield career after claiming he was “thrown under the bus” during the Premier League champions’ slump.
The Egyptian was left on the bench for the third consecutive game in Saturday’s 3-3 draw at Leeds and was not even introduced as a substitute by Slot.
After next weekend’s home game against Brighton, Salah is set to leave for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and hinted this could be his last appearance in a Liverpool shirt if he is selected.
«I am very disappointed. I have done so much for this club over the years and especially last season,» Salah told reporters in the mixed zone at Elland Road.
«Now I’m sitting on the bench and I don’t know why. It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That’s how I feel. I think it’s very clear that someone wanted to put all the blame on me.»
«I’ve had a lot of promises this summer and so far I’ve been on the bench for three games, so I can’t say they’re keeping their promise. I’ve said before that I had a good relationship with the manager, and suddenly we don’t have any relationship anymore. I don’t know why, but it seems to me, the way I see it, that someone doesn’t want me at the club.»
«This club, I always support it. My children will always support it. I love the club so much, I always will. I called my mother yesterday – you didn’t know if I was going to start or not, but I knew.»
“Yesterday I said to (my parents): ‘Come to the Brighton game.’ I don’t know if I’m going to play or not, but I’m going to enjoy it.
«In my head I’m going to enjoy that match because I don’t know what’s going to happen next. I’ll be at Anfield to say goodbye to the fans and go to the African Cup of Nations. I don’t know what’s going to happen when I get there.»
Saudi speculation
Salah is Liverpool’s third-highest goalscorer of all time with 250 goals in 420 games and has won two Premier League titles and the Champions League since joining from Roma in 2017.
However, during Liverpool’s struggles this season he has been a shadow of his former self.
Slots’ men have won just two of their last ten Premier League games, dropping to eighth in the table.
Salah has scored just five times in 19 appearances this season but was a regular starter until the 2-0 win over West Ham last weekend.
The 33-year-old was introduced from the bench in the 1-1 draw against Sunderland on Wednesday, but to little effect.
Slot defended his decision to leave Salah on the bench at Elland Road as Liverpool led for most of the second half before conceding an equalizer in stoppage time.
“It was more about controlling the match (at 3-2), and we didn’t need a goal for that,” said Slot.
Normally when you need a goal, like last week against Sunderland, I brought Mo in.»
Salah has long attracted interest from the Saudi Pro League, and the Gulf could provide his most likely escape route from Anfield during the January transfer window.
He signed a lucrative new two-year contract in April after starring in guiding Liverpool to a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title.
Published on December 7, 2025
