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Mohamed Salah reacting badly to being benched is nothing new - the Liverpool talisman has never been shy of showing his emotions when made to sit on the sidelines.
Of course, he has never gone as far as he did after last weekend’s game at Leeds, in which he was named on the bench for a third game in a row. Having accused Liverpool of “throwing him under the bus” and suggesting that someone at the club is driving him out, his future looks to be in considerable doubt.
Salah even suggested that he could play his final game for the Reds this weekend against Brighton, although there are major questions over whether Arne Slot should bring him back into the squad, having left him out completely against Inter Milan this week.
Liverpool fans have seen Salah unhappy with being made to sit on the bench a few times over the years, most notably during Jurgen Klopp’s final season in charge when he argued with the German before coming on as a substitute against West Ham.
But it was another incident that raised the ire of former Manchester United captain Keane, with Salah reacting angrily to being substituted during Liverpool’s opening game of the same season at Chelsea.
“It’s okay to be upset but don’t keep it going too long,” Keane said when speaking about the incident on Sky Sports after the game in 2023.
“He was shaking his head and sitting on the bench with his arms in the air. Sit down and shut up. You have to take.”
Despite Keane’s annoyance at Salah’s reaction on that occasion, the former midfielder has made his admiration for the winger clear, having heaped praise on him for his role in Liverpool winning the title last season.
“Put it this way, if you put him in the Arsenal team, Arsenal win the league this year. That’s how special he is,” Keane said back in April.
“I’m glad he got the deal done because you want the top players playing in the Premier League and he deserves it.
“He’s a special player and no doubt a good pro, he’s doing the business so they had to give him the deal. They couldn’t let him walk out the door on a free.”
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Although he remains a Liverpool player for now, how much longer that remains the case is yet to be seen.
Reports have suggested that the club has no plans to turn Saturday’s game against Brighton into a farewell for Salah, despite the player’s suggestion that it could be his final appearance for the Reds.
Salah will depart for the Africa Cup of Nations after the game, and with the tournament running until January 18, it is possible that he could secure a transfer away from Anfield before he’s due to return to Merseyside.
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