Mohamed Salah makes eye-catching accusations against Arne Slott after being left on the bench for the third consecutive game, but the Liverpool manager’s thoughts are clear
Mohamed Salah feels he was thrown under the bus by Arne Slott, but the Liverpool manager’s reasons for dropping him don’t match that accusation. Salah made the decision to leave Liverpool ahead of the January transfer window after attracting attention with his explosive outburst at the weekend.
The Egyptian star told reporters after being left on the substitute bench in Saturday’s 3-3 draw with Leeds. He has been on the bench for the last three games and is in doubt for Tuesday’s Champions League game against Inter Milan and Saturday’s Premier League game against Brighton.
Salah feels he has been made the scapegoat for Liverpool’s poor performance this season and believes he doesn’t need to earn a place in the side given his status as a club legend. He made it clear he was no longer associated with Slott and suggested he had no future at the club even if the Dutchman remained in charge.
It was an explosive and defiant attack from Salah, who will soon be leaving Merseyside for the African Cup of Nations. Liverpool are said to be open to letting the 33-year-old go in January, with the Saudi club keen to sign him despite his £350,000-a-week wage.
read more: Alan Shearer starts defending Mo Salah but reveals Liverpool star got one thing wrongread more: Liverpool take firm stance on Mo Salah’s January transfer following Arne Slott’s bombshell statement
Salah said he felt the decision to leave him out was made because someone at the club was trying to force him out. But that doesn’t seem to be the case, with club officials shocked by his words at Elland Road.
According to The Athletic, Slott believes leaving Salah out was a simple selection decision and that using Dominik Szoboszlai on the right wing is to strengthen the team’s defence. That is the main reason for the call-up, but the need to try a different approach is another reason for the change before Salah disappears to play for Egypt at AFCON.
Liverpool’s last three games have been a 2-0 away win at West Ham, a 1-1 draw with Sunderland at Anfield and a draw at Elland Road. Salah only played in one of those games, coming off the bench at half-time against Sunderland, but had little effect.
Salah has revealed a conversation he had with Slott last season, acknowledging that he was not contributing enough towards his goals. “I said to him: ‘As long as you rest defensively, I’ll contribute offensively as well,'” Salah told Sky Sports in April. “He listened so well that I could see the numbers.”
He scored 29 goals and provided 18 assists in the Premier League last season, but his numbers have not improved this season. Salah has played in 13 league games so far, scoring four goals and providing two assists, while in the Champions League he has played in five games, scoring one goal and providing one assist.
Slott explained the decision before the Leeds game. “It’s not an easy decision at all because we all know what a great player he is,” he said. “But it’s also up to me to choose the team that I think we need today. That’s why I made the decision.”
Asked about Salah’s frustration after last weekend’s 2-0 win over West Ham, Slott said: “That’s a normal reaction of a player who is good enough to play for us and I say that gently because he has done very well for this club over the years and always will. He wasn’t the only one who wasn’t happy about not starting and that’s normal.”
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