2 hours ago
4
Mohamed Salah shocked everyone — probably even his Liverpool teammates — on Saturday when he delivered an explosive mixed zone chat with reporters in which he made several huge claims, including that the Reds have "thrown him under the bus."
The 33-year-old, who only signed a new two-year contract in April, was clearly upset at being put on the bench for three games in a row. He said that he no longer has a relationship with Arne Slot and felt that he was being made a scapegoat for the early-season troubles, suggesting that 'someone' wants him gone.
Back in August, though, speaking ahead of Liverpool beating Arsenal 1-0 at Anfield, Salah completely contradicted himself. He spoke at length about his relationship with Slot — and how the manager is never against you.
The Egyptian was speaking about his role as a leader within the group and how younger, more inexperienced players can sometimes get frustrated with decisions made by the coach — something that he tries to help with.
"You always feel that 'Oh, he is against me'," Salah told Sky Sports. "But no, nobody is against you. Especially the manager. If the manager feels he is benefiting with you, he will be with you. It is never personal.
"But as a player, your friends tell you, 'Why don't you play?'. But your friends know nothing. Now, I have changed as a person, and I see things in a different way, not as a young player anymore."
Salah also spoke well of Slot and the role that the manager played in him signing a new contract. He even suggested that he felt he could have a chat with the Reds boss about potential signings.
"I had a conversation with him [about transfers] before I renewed," Salah said. "But I don't tell him, 'Oh, boss, we need that.'
"Before I renewed, I needed to have the whole plan. But after, in the beginning of the season, I was asking just out of curiosity. I know my role, and I know that he needs to decide what he wants and which positions [to buy in the transfer market].
"To be fair, the thing I admire him a lot [for] is he gives me space to give my opinions. If I feel like I want to tell him we need a guy in that position, I can tell him."
Clearly, something has changed since. Salah said at Elland Road — just three months after these quotes — that his relationship with Slot has completely broken down. Clubs in Saudi Arabia have long been keen on signing him, with an exit possible in January.
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Salah did get one thing correct, though, with Arsenal and Mikel Arteta now 10 points ahead of Liverpool in the Premier League standings.
"[Arsenal is] the favorites because they have a team that has played together for five or six years," he said. "They understand each other's game and they have a manager with the team for five or six years.
"When a team is together for that long, they know each other's game so it is easier for them. For us and City, changing a lot of players, it is always tricky. In my opinion, Arsenal is the favorite."
Liverpool.com says: Salah is allowed to have his opinions but speaking so publicly, when the team had just dropped more points, was never going to go down well. What happens next will probably hinge on whether he is prepared to back down.
English (US) ·