Mohamed Salah has been left out of Liverpool’s squad for their Champions League match against Inter Milan. Arne Slott’s Reds will face Inter at the San Siro on Tuesday night as they aim to win their fourth European title this season.
Salah has been one of Liverpool’s most important players since joining the club from Roma in 2017. He shined in Slott’s first season as manager, scoring 34 goals and providing 23 assists in all competitions. However, he was overwhelmed on the pitch this season as the team struggled to maintain good form in the Premier League. And he has been on the bench for each of the Reds’ last three league games. Less than a week after coming on as a substitute against West Ham, he missed the pitch in Saturday’s game against Leeds.
After Saturday’s game against Leeds, Salah made his thoughts on the situation clear, explaining: “It’s very disappointing. I’ve done a lot for this club. Everyone saw it in recent years, especially last season. I don’t know why I’m sitting on the bench.”
“I feel like the club is throwing me under the bus. That’s how I feel. I think it’s obvious that someone will blame me. The club promised me a lot in the summer, but I was on the bench for three games. I can’t say they kept their promises. I feel like the club is throwing me under the bus. I feel like the club has promised me a lot in the summer, but I can’t say they’ve kept their promises. I feel like they’re throwing me under the bus.
“I’ve said many times that I have a good relationship with the coach, but all of a sudden we no longer have a relationship. I don’t know why.”
And he has now been completely excluded from Liverpool’s matchday squad for their trip to Italy to face Inter. The decision was taken by Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes in conjunction with his ownership of the club and is not seen as a punishment, but rather a common sense move in the wake of his comments.
But the decision underlines the club’s support for Slott, who has come under increasing pressure in recent weeks following disastrous results. Slott will address the media from Italy at 6:45 p.m.
The club said Salah’s stay at home will not affect his selection for this weekend’s match between the Reds and Brighton. Liverpool insist they are committed to signing the player until the summer of 2027.
Salah will be handed international duty after the match against the Seagulls and is expected to play for Egypt at the African Cup of Nations, which begins just before Christmas.
And if Egypt progress to the final, he may not be able to return to Merseyside until after January 18. By that stage, the January transfer window will have been open for more than two weeks. And Salah has attracted interest from the Saudi Professional League in recent seasons, with Liverpool potentially receiving offers for the forward by the time he returns to England.
Liverpool have no plans for the attacker to leave in January. However, the three-time PFA Player of the Year will be unavailable for the Reds over the next week and may never play for the club again if Liverpool sanction his transfer while he is away on international duty.
Liverpool’s 19-man squad will play in full capacity against Inter Milan
Goalkeeper: Alisson, Mamadashvili, Woodman
DF: Gomez, Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkes, Bradley, Robertson, Lackey.
Midfielders: Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Jones, Grabenbert, Nyoni
FW: Isaac, Ekitike, Ngumoha, Wirtz
