The relationship between Mohamed Salah and Liverpool Football Club appears to be fractured beyond repair following the Egyptian star's extraordinary public outburst at Elland Road on Saturday night. His calculated interview, lasting over seven minutes, not only betrays his teammates but also poses a severe challenge to the authority of head coach Arne Slot and the club's hierarchy.
A Calculated Grenade Thrown Under the Bus
While Salah may have been emotional after being named on the bench for the third consecutive match against Leeds United, his decision to stop and speak to waiting reporters was no spontaneous act. This was a premeditated move by one of Liverpool's greatest ever players, designed to apply maximum pressure. In the interview, Salah twice accused the club of "throwing him under the bus" during their dismal Premier League title defence, a claim that drags everyone from the boardroom to the dressing room into the controversy.
The 33-year-old revealed there is no longer a relationship between himself and Slot, creating an untenable situation for the Dutch manager. He further claimed that "someone" at the club wants him out, a statement that immediately points fingers at sporting director Richard Hughes and FSG's Michael Edwards. This is especially sensitive given Liverpool are committed to paying Salah over £32 million for the remaining 19 months of a contract he signed only in April.
Betrayal of the Dressing Room and a Test of Authority
Salah's actions have been interpreted as a profound betrayal of the squad. His entitled insistence that he has earned his starting position—a place recently given to the in-form Dominik Szoboszlai—undermines team unity. It also contradicts the recent words of captain Virgil van Dijk, who stated that "everyone has to perform" when asked about Salah's demotion. Van Dijk had earlier expressed a need for Salah's leadership, but this intervention was anything but leading by example.
The situation draws direct parallels with Roy Keane's infamous MUTV interview in 2005, which led to the Manchester United captain's departure. While Salah did not directly lambast teammates as Keane did, he openly challenged his manager's decision-making. Liverpool's response will be crucial. Allowing this to pass would critically undermine Slot's authority. One potential course of action is to banish Salah from the upcoming Champions League trip to face Inter Milan and the Premier League clash with Brighton.
The Inevitable End and a Saudi-Shaped Crossroads
It now seems inconceivable that both Salah and Slot will remain at Liverpool until the Egyptian's contract expires in the summer of 2027. The club's next move will reveal who they are backing: their fading superstar or their embattled manager. The decision is complicated by persistent interest from Saudi Arabia, with the probability of a formal bid increasing in the January transfer window.
Liverpool rightly rejected a £150 million bid from Al-Ittihad in September 2023, a decision vindicated by Salah's role in last season's title win. However, with the player now 33 and showing marked decline, the temptation to cash in and reinvest may be greater. The proceeds could fund a move for a player like Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo, who has a reported £65 million release clause.
Salah's interview, while divisive, resonated with some fans frustrated by Liverpool's rapid decline. The club spent nearly £450 million on the title-winning squad only to go backwards at an alarming rate. Slot has failed to rectify persistent issues with set-pieces and defensive errors, exemplified by Ao Tanaka's 96th-minute equaliser for Leeds—the 10th set-piece goal Liverpool have conceded this season.
While Mohamed Salah will retain hero status at Anfield for his legendary contributions, his Elland Road outburst may be the act that defines the end of his era. As he himself pondered, "Somehow it will end. But the thing in my head is why it should end this way?" The answer, sadly, may be because he chose to end it this way.
