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Mohamed Salah’s return to Liverpool’s squad against Brighton drew immediate reactions from supporters, with fans quickly making their feelings known about the forward’s situation.
Last week, Salah claimed he had no relationship with Liverpool’s head coach Arne Slot, making several explosive remarks in a bombshell interview following the 3-3 draw at Leeds United.
Speaking to reporters after watching the match from the bench at Elland Road, he accused the club of breaking promises made when he signed a new contract and described the situation as “not acceptable.”
His comments subsequently led to his omission from the squad for Liverpool’s midweek trip to face Inter Milan in the Champions League.
Salah returned to the squad for Saturday’s clash against Brighton after holding talks with Slot at the AXA Training Centre on Friday, though the details of their discussions remain unclear.
The 33-year-old didn't return to the starting XI but remained on the bench for his fourth game. Ahead of the game, Salah received a warm round of applause as he headed down the tunnel after the warm-up and reciprocated the gesture.
Around this time last year, a banner appeared on the Kop depicting Salah with the words: “FSG. He fires a bow, now give Mo his dough!” By April, Salah was celebrated on a throne inside Anfield to mark his new contract, and just over two weeks later, Liverpool secured the Premier League title.
Fast forward eight months, and the 33-year-old found himself out of the starting XI, embroiled in a public dispute with the club and Slot. In a damning statement regarding his relationship with Slot, Salah replied to a question about how the pair get along behind the scenes. "Yeah, there's no relationship between us," he said. "It was very good relationship and now all of a sudden there is no relationship."
"After what I have done for the club it really hurts," Salah added. "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."
He was also questioned on whether he regretted signing the new two-year contract earlier this year. "Imagine how bad that I have to answer it, honestly," Salah said. "That hurts, even the question hurts. This club, signing for this club, I will never regret it.
"I thought 'I'm going to renew here and end my career here', but this is not according to the plan, so I'm not regretting signing for the club for sure."
Liverpool.com says: Salah's decision to air his frustrations following a match he didn’t play, in which Liverpool dropped points, left fans divided but the reaction from those at Anfield but the reaction today shows they are firmly behind the Egyptian.
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