14 hours ago
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Jamie Carragher apologized to Mohamed Salah and exclaimed that he loves the former Liverpool star for what he has achieved on the pitch during his Reds career.
Carragher has been a vocal critic of how Salah has conducted himself in the media over the last year or so, repeatedly pointing out how infrequently he stops to speak to journalists after Liverpool games.
The pundit spoke about Salah on Monday Night Football, tearing into the Egyptian King for the way he's handled himself off the field. Carragher wasn't shy about laying into the forward, claiming Salah wanted "maximum damage" with his quotes. He followed those quotes up on Tuesday when working for CBS Sports.
"I think whenever Mo Salah stops in a mixed zone, which he's done four times in eight years at Liverpool, it's choreographed with him and his agent to cause maximum damage and strengthen his own position," Carragher said earlier this week.
Appearing on CBS Sports' coverage of the Champions League on Tuesday, it was put to Carragher by fellow analyst Micah Richards that many observes feel as though Carragher's comments about Salah have had a personal edge to them.
Carragher responded: "I don't care what people say, I'm not interested in what people say if I'm being totally honest. It doesn't affect me, it doesn't bother me.
"I absolutely adore Mo Salah the footballer, I've raved over him for eight years, and I continue to do so."
Asked by Richards whether he would like to apologize to Salah, Carragher looked down the camera and said. "Mo I apologize if I upset you. I love you as a Liverpool player, but you just need to behave yourself off the pitch."
Carragher also gave his verdict on whether Salah should be restored to the Liverpool squad against Brighton this weekend before he departs for the Africa Cup of Nations next week.
"I don't think so to be honest," Carragher said. "I don't know why you would bring the circus of it, whether he was on the bench, warming up in front of supporters - could it split the crowd between the manager and Mo Salah?
"I just think because there's only one more game before he goes away, it's probably better if he just leaves it for now and sees how the land lies when he's back from Afcon.
"On the back of Liverpool performing well [against Inter Milan], the first time we've really seen Ekitike and Isak together. You'd think Wirtz would start on Saturday as well at home to Brighton.
"I actually said a few weeks ago that Liverpool might almost have to build a team for the future while Salah was at Afcon.
"Liverpool were always going to have to find a way to get their big-money signings in the team, and it hasn't happened yet. The game against Brighton is the perfect opportunity to play the two strikers with Wirtz in behind.
"It's the first time we might see that, and maybe what is the future of Liverpool going forward over the next 18 months to two years."
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