As if conceding a 96th-minute equalizer away to Leeds United wasn’t dramatic enough for Liverpool on Saturday night, Mohamed Salah also makes an appearance. In the latest interview, he not only set the touch paper on fire, but also poured liters of gasoline into it. Let’s talk about an explosive interview. This packs a punch like Mike Tyson in his prime. And Salah’s message to Merseyside’s top brass is very clear: “Either I leave or the manager leaves.”
Liverpool were worried enough even before Salah spoke to reporters inside Elland Road. They have won two of their last 10 Premier League games. They look lost on the pitch, lacking an identity or pattern of play, relying solely on the individual qualities of their players to create magical moments to win games. But now, in addition to their mounting problems on the pitch, they have another big problem to deal with off the pitch as well. Salah’s words put Liverpool’s management in a situation that would have been unimaginable just a few months ago, when they were basking in the glory of the club’s 20th league title, spearheaded by the Egyptian himself.
Salah told Liverpool he had been “thrown under the bus”. The 33-year-old told reporters: “I’ve done a lot for this club so far, especially last season. Now I’m on the bench and I don’t know why. I feel like the club threw me under the bus. That’s how I feel. I got a lot of promises in the summer and I’ve been on the bench for three games so far, so I can’t say they’re keeping their promises.”
“I have said many times that I had a good relationship with the manager, but suddenly our relationship stopped. I don’t know why, but it seemed like someone didn’t want me at the club. I can’t accept this situation. It really breaks my heart, considering what I’ve done for the club.”
He has a point. In April this year, Liverpool signed him to a new two-year contract worth £400,000 a week. This is the highest fee ever paid for a player in Liverpool’s 133-year history. They know his age and their specialist data team likely would have known what to expect from him on the pitch during the contract period.
However, the team has now left him on the bench for three straight league games and is in a period where they desperately need a winning streak. Are Slott and his staff admitting they were wrong? Shouldn’t they have signed Salah to a new contract? perhaps. Otherwise, Salah clearly feels like a scapegoat.
It’s entirely natural for the Egyptian to feel disrespected by the fact that he wasn’t even asked to feature in the games against West Ham and Leeds. Was he at his best this season?No. Yet only three players have created more chances than his 28 in the Premier League: Bruno Fernandes (40), Jeremy Doku (36) and Jack Grealish (29). Although his productivity has declined, he hasn’t completely fallen off a cliff.
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And Slot’s tactics, and the overall tactical mess this Liverpool team is currently in, are just as much of a cause for general anxiety as Salah’s lack of pressing. He mentioned Jamie Carragher’s name in the interview, but clearly feels he has received more criticism than he deserves. There are some players who can be blamed before turning to Salah, that’s for sure.
However, the Reds were effectively given an ultimatum. Slot or Sarah? I have to go now. Whether selling Salah in the January window or sacking Slot in the coming days and weeks. This is an unacceptable situation and suggests a deepening rift within the changing room. Unlike the fictional town of Hawkins, Liverpool can’t just slap a bunch of metal sheets on it.
It’s devastating for Liverpool that this has happened. This is a club and team still grieving the tragic loss of Diogo Jota. This situation was managed admirably by Slott. But since then, he has obviously lost faith in Salah. In the days leading up to this interview, there were whispers that the veteran winger had private doubts about the Dutchman’s tactics. Based on the evidence in this interview, there is some substance to these rumors. No one can come out of this situation better.
So… will Liverpool’s hierarchy side with the manager who brought the club their first league title in front of their fans since 1990, or will they side with the winger who has excelled every season and is the third highest scorer in Anfield’s history? It’s an enviable situation. Even Liverpool’s fan base will be divided, but based on their recent impressive performances and results, there are probably more backing the players than the manager at the moment.
Externally, there was a lot of talk around Slott about a man under immense pressure, but privately the feeling was that Liverpool still had full faith in the 47-year-old. And perhaps, despite a summer of luxury, he hasn’t been given the tools he needs this season. Will this situation change with this shocking Salah interview? One thing is for sure: his relationship with Slott appears to be broken beyond repair. people have to leave.
