Mohamed Salah finds it incomprehensible that he has lost his place in the starting line-up at Liverpool. The Egyptian has spoken out against the choices of manager Arne Slot after the draw against Leeds United.
Leeds United and Liverpool drew 3-3 on Saturday evening in the Premier League, in a chaotic and emotional match that is likely to be remembered more for what happened off the pitch afterwards than for the six goals themselves.
The thriller at Elland Road exposed Liverpool’s ongoing defensive issues, but it also brought the growing tension around Mohamed Salah’s situation at the club fully into the spotlight.
Once again, Salah started the game on the bench. Arne Slot left the Egyptian out of the starting line-up for the third Premier League match in a row, a decision that is increasingly difficult for many Liverpool supporters to understand. The 33-year-old forward, long regarded as the face of the club’s modern era, watched the entire ninety minutes from the sidelines, just as he had done in the previous league games against West Ham and Sunderland. Slot did give him some minutes in the midweek cup tie against Sunderland, when Salah came on as a substitute, but in the Premier League the manager has continued to stick with his new attacking structure without him.
That absence became the main talking point after the final whistle. While the match itself had been open and entertaining, with both teams trading blows and Liverpool twice coming from behind to rescue a point, the real storm began in the mixed zone. A visibly frustrated Salah stopped to speak to several media outlets, including TV2, and did not hide his disappointment or confusion.
Salah said he could not believe the situation and made it clear that the decision to continually leave him on the bench had deeply hurt him. He pointed out that he has done so much for Liverpool over the years and reminded everyone that his contribution has been decisive season after season. Last year, in particular, he had been central to the club’s title-winning campaign, finishing as the Premier League’s top scorer with 29 goals and again proving that he remains one of the most reliable forwards in European football.
For many players, such a record would normally guarantee a status that puts them beyond doubt. Salah feels that this is no longer the case. According to the right winger, the dynamic between him and Slot has changed drastically in recent weeks. He explained that he had often spoken very positively in public about his relationship with the manager and had always respected his authority, but that, from his point of view, something has shifted suddenly and dramatically. He now feels that there is basically no relationship at all and does not understand how it has reached this point.
The Egyptian suggested that the issue goes beyond simple tactical choices. He said he has the feeling that someone at the club no longer wants him around and that he is being treated as if he were a problem rather than a solution. He referred to this treatment as unacceptable and insisted that he does not believe he is the source of the problems facing Liverpool. For a player who has consistently carried the team in crucial moments, these remarks signal a serious breakdown in trust.
Inside the club, Slot and his staff have tried to present Salah’s absence from the starting line-up as a football decision. Behind closed doors, it is believed that the manager wants more intensity and pressing from his front line and sees the current front three as better suited to his preferred system. There have also been suggestions that Liverpool want to start planning for the future, gradually reducing their dependence on a player who is now in his mid thirties. From a purely long term planning perspective, the club’s leadership may see this as a necessary transition.
However, even if there are sporting arguments for Slot’s choices, the timing and communication seem to have been handled poorly from Salah’s perspective. Publicly, he has remained professional for most of the season, but the growing frustration has been visible. Each time the line ups are announced without his name, social media is flooded with questions and criticism from fans who still regard him as their superstar. Many supporters argue that even if Slot is thinking about the next cycle, Salah’s current level still justifies a place in the starting eleven, particularly in high intensity matches like the one at Elland Road.
The 3-3 draw itself did little to ease the pressure. Defensively, Liverpool looked fragile again, which only increased the feeling among supporters that the coach is focusing on the wrong area by targeting Salah’s place instead of addressing the structural issues further back. Without their number 11 on the pitch, Liverpool sometimes lack a killer instinct in the final third, even when the team creates chances. The sense that a proven match winner is being left unused while points are dropped is creating more and more frustration among the fanbase.
Salah’s comments after the match also carried a personal and emotional weight. He spoke about his long relationship with Liverpool and the sacrifices he has made for the club, especially in terms of playing through pain, managing a heavy schedule and dealing with the intense scrutiny that comes with being the main star. He seemed hurt that his loyalty and performances are not being repaid with the same level of trust from the new manager and possibly from elements of the club hierarchy.
The clearest indication that the situation may be reaching a breaking point came when Salah hinted at a quick departure. He revealed that next Saturday’s home match against Brighton & Hove Albion could potentially be his last game at Anfield. In preparation, he has invited his mother to attend, a detail that gives a sense of finality to his words. For many players, bringing close family members to what could be a farewell match is a sign that they are at least considering closing a chapter.
Salah stressed that, regardless of whether he plays or not, he intends to enjoy the occasion. He said he wants to take in the atmosphere, feel the connection with the supporters one more time and then see what happens in the days that follow. The comment that he is going to say goodbye to the fans was perhaps the most striking. On the surface, it can be interpreted as a simple gesture before he travels to represent Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations, which is a key part of his calendar and a competition of huge importance in his home country. However, combined with his other remarks, it sounds very much like a hint that he is preparing for the possibility that he might not return to Anfield as a Liverpool player after the tournament.
From Liverpool’s point of view, the club now faces a delicate situation that will require careful management. Losing a player of Salah’s stature, especially under a cloud of public conflict, would be a huge blow both on and off the pitch. His commercial value, global appeal and remarkable consistency in front of goal have made him central to the club’s identity in recent years. If the relationship between player, manager and hierarchy has eroded to this extent, the coming weeks could define not only the rest of this season but also the direction of the entire Slot project.
For now, Salah remains a Liverpool player, but the draw at Leeds and his explosive comments afterwards have moved the story into a new phase. What happens in the build up to the Brighton match and in the aftermath of his departure for the Africa Cup of Nations will be watched closely by fans, pundits and potential suitors across Europe and beyond. One thing is clear: a chapter that once seemed destined to end in legendary status and a smooth farewell has suddenly become tense, emotional and highly uncertain.
Updated: 12:01, 7 Dec 2025
