17 hours ago
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Liverpool failed to win once again in the Premier League, drawing 3-3 to Leeds United at Elland Road on Saturday after a late Ao Tanakaa equalizer - but it was off-field events which have dominated the headlines.
Mohammed Salah, the league's top scorer last year, didn't start for a third consecutive contest. The Egyptian international made a rare appearance in the mixed zone post-match and aired out his feelings.
"I'm very, very disappointed to be fair. I have done so much for this club down the years and especially last season," he said, before claiming he has "no relationship" with Arne Slot in an astonishing attack on his manager.
Yet before the match, Liverpool coach Arne Slot praised Salah for his attitude in the dressing room and admitted the 33-year-old is "always in my mind to either start or come in" as he suggested his frustration was understandable just hours before their feud became public.
"He even deserves [to be such a talking point] because he has been so influential for this club, for his teammates and for me," Slot said on Friday.
"It’s completely normal that if I don’t play players who have just arrived at the club people – we are already talking about it. So it’s completely normal that people talk about it when he isn’t playing....He is always on my mind to either start or come in."
Liverpool raced to a 2-0 lead after halftime after a pair of quick Hugo Ekitike goals. Leeds equalized before Dominik Szoboszlai gave the Reds the lead in the 80th minute. Tanaka scored in injury time to ensure that the spoils were shared.
Slot started Szoboszlai, Florian Wirtz, and Cody Gakpo under Ekitike. With Liverpool leading 2-0, he subbed on a pair of defensive reinforcements: Joe Gomez and Alexis Mac Allister.
Once the Reds took the lead via Szoboszlai, Slot brought on Wataru Endo and Alexander Isak. There was no more time to make another change once Leeds equalized at 3-3.
"Now I'm sitting on the bench, and I don't know why," Salah said post-match. "It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus."
"That is how I am feeling. I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame," he added, herps referencing Slot.
After what I have done for the club, it really hurts. You can imagine, really. After going from home to the club and you don’t know if you are starting. I know the club too well; I have been here many years. Tomorrow Carragher is going to go for me again and again and that’s fine."
Szoboszlai, who thought he scored the match-winner, didn't want to share private information about what happens at the club behind closed doors. "What happened in the dressing room stays in the dressing room. It's not for the public," he said.
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