Image Credits: Imago Images
The Mohamed Salah situation at Liverpool has evolved from a simmering disagreement to a full-blown crisis that threatens to end one of the most successful partnerships in the club’s modern history. As the Reds prepare to host Brighton on Saturday, the Egyptian forward’s future at Anfield remains shrouded in uncertainty, with Saudi Arabia circling and the January transfer window fast approaching. The drama escalated last weekend when Salah, benched for a third consecutive match during Liverpool’s 3-3 draw at Leeds, delivered an explosive interview in the mixed zone at Elland Road. The 33-year-old claimed he had been “thrown under the bus” by the club and revealed his relationship with manager Arne Slot had completely broken down.
The fallout was swift and severe. Liverpool subsequently dropped Salah from the squad for Tuesday’s crucial Champions League fixture against Inter Milan—a decision made with Slot’s full backing. The Reds proceeded to secure a vital 1-0 victory at the San Siro without their talisman, with Dominik Szoboszlai converting an 88th-minute penalty. It will no doubt be a slightly awkward atmosphere in the Liverpool dressing room as a result of everything going on. However, there are no sides being taken in an “Arne Slot vs Mohamed Salah” civil war – at least according to Merseyside reporter Lewis Steele.
Writing in his Liverpool Confidential, the reporter has revealed that most of the Liverpool dressing room is firmly behind the manager, even more so after all the Mohamed Salah noise:
“If one thing was made clear this week in the aftermath of the Mohamed Salah soap opera, it is that Arne Slot has the backing of most other people in the building at Liverpool’s HQ. Confidential has spoken to a number of sources close to the situation or dressing room this week and the word back from most is that the players are well behind Slot, perhaps even more so after the Salah incident. Many have talked about how they see Slot as a tactician that gets the best out of them (albeit not as much so recently). This was demonstrated in the San Siro on Tuesday with a crucial win that had Slot’s fingerprints all over it. More importantly, Slot has the backing of those upstairs. The decision to omit Salah from the squad on Tuesday was made in conjunction by the hierarchy and Slot. As ‘head coach’, he is trusted to make such moves but others helped him reach the final call.”
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