“I could not believe I was sitting on the bench for 90 minutes. That’s the third time. It’s the first time in my career I think,” he said after being left out of the starting lineup for the third straight Premier League fixture. ..Continue Reading
“I am very disappointed, I have done so much for this club over years, especially last season, It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus,” the experienced Egypt international, 33, added.
“That’s how I feel it. Someone wants me to get all the blame. The club promised me a lot in summer. Now I’m on bench so I can say they haven’t kept those promises.”
Salah’s pointed remarks have sparked widespread discussion. Chelsea and England icon John Terry – who played alongside the prolific forward during their time at Stamford Bridge – suggested that Arne Slot’s team could benefit from Salah’s game-changing qualities.
“I think he has been made a scapegoat a little bit,” he said. But is that a view shared by his teammates?
Many in the football world believe Salah may have crossed a line. Wayne Rooney, who recently urged Slot to sideline the former AS Roma star, argued that he is “destroying his legacy at Liverpool” with his post-match remarks at Elland Road.
In a recent piece for The Athletic, James Pearce shed light on how the Liverpool squad has reacted.
“Salah commands respect and admiration in the Liverpool dressing room, but has few close friends within it,” he wrote, noting that the squad wasn’t surprised by the tone of his comments.
“Team-mates sensed an immediate change in his mood when he found out on Friday that he was not starting against Leeds. Given his history, they knew that he would publicly vent his anger sooner rather than later, and there was no sense of shock when they read his comments late on Saturday night.”
Pearce also suggested that Salah’s headline-grabbing interview shifted attention away from Liverpool’s poor form, which included blowing two separate leads against Daniel Farke’s side.
“It actually took the spotlight away from the disastrous manner in which they had surrendered 2-0 and 3-2 leads. Suddenly, no one was talking about Ibrahima Konate’s latest blunder.”
According to Pearce, who spoke with several well-placed sources, senior figures at Liverpool weren’t entirely surprised by Salah’s frustration over his limited minutes, but were taken aback by the intensity of his criticism toward the club and Slot.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has also addressed the situation – though the Dutch defender kept his response brief and noncommittal.
“Let him say something,” he said. Given that Van Dijk and Salah have shared the pitch 312 times, it’s perhaps unsurprising that his remarks were measured.
This episode has fueled speculation about how much longer Salah will remain at Liverpool. A consistent goal threat since his move from Italy in 2017, he could be on the move in January, with several clubs reportedly monitoring the situation.
According to GIVEMESPORT’s Ben Jacobs, interest from Saudi Arabia remains strong.
In addition to Saudi Pro League suitors, MLS sides San Diego and Chicago Fire are also believed to be potential destinations if Salah’s time at Anfield comes to an end next month.
With a contract running until 2027 after signing a two-year extension this past summer, the £400,000-per-week star would command a significant transfer fee.
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