1 day ago
25
Peter Crouch fears there may be no way back for Mohamed Salah at Liverpool following his outburst against the club.
Salah’s future looks to be in considerable doubt after he took aim at Liverpool and Arne Slot after being named on the bench for a third game in a row at Leeds last weekend. The 33-year-old accused the club of throwing him “under the bus” and suggested that someone was trying to drive him out.
Having been left out of the traveling squad for the midweek trip to Inter Milan as a result of his comments, Salah is set for showdown talks with Slot on Friday in which it will be decided whether or not he returns to the squad to face Brighton on Saturday.
The winger has already suggested that could be his final appearance for the Reds, having told his family to be in attendance at Anfield, although reports this week have indicated that the club will not be turning tomorrow’s game into a farewell for him.
The result of Salah’s talks with Slot on Friday may well decide whether the Egypt international still has a future at Anfield, although former Reds striker Crouch fears the damage may have already been done.
“There’s no way back if he doesn’t apologize, as a manager Arne Slot can’t lose face like that,” Crouch told Paddy Power.
“I was very surprised to learn that they hadn’t spoken to each other since the interview, for me that seems very strange. Surely the first thing you do (as a manager) is speak to a player after something like that?
“It does look likely he’ll move on now unless they speak and there’s communication. I think this has to get addressed before AFCON one way or another before Salah goes away. They need to have a sit down conversation like adults, I just can’t believe they haven’t had it yet.
“I can understand Salah’s frustration. I’ve been in that circumstance before and there’s certainly been top players who have fallen out with their managers before.
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
“It was just the public nature of the comments. You’re well within your rights to say what you’ve done for the club, but you say that to the manager, you don’t do that in the press. Emotions were running high, but I definitely think the interview was calculated. It certainly wasn’t an accident”
Slot laughed off a question on a potential apology from Salah during his pre-match press conference on Friday, but Crouch is just the latest pundit to urge the winger to say sorry, with former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard having made the same point.
Despite the uncertainty Salah has placed on his own future, Crouch doesn’t feel his outburst will tarnish his reputation.
“For me his Liverpool legacy will still stand the test of time, but if it does end like this, it’s certainly a disappointing way to go out. For what he’s achieved, he’ll always be revered. As long as he goes to Saudi and not another English club!”
English (US) ·