Mohamed Salah has a ‘deeper issue’ with Liverpool beyond being benched by Arne Slot, as the Egyptian is unconvinced by the club’s summer signings of Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, Daily Mail journalist Lewis Steele has revealed.
The 33-year-old forward returned to the Liverpool squad for their 2-0 win over Brighton last weekend, where he came off the bench and registered an assist.
It was the fourth Premier League game in a row that Salah had been left out of the first XI, and the Egyptian made his emotions clear earlier this month when he claimed his relationship with Slot was broken following a 3-3 draw at Leeds United.
Although the situation between the Dutch manager and the forward has been resolved, Steele suggests Salah’s concerns at the club extend beyond his dynamic with Slot.
Salah ‘Not Convinced’ by Liverpool Signings
FLORIAN WIRTZ
According to Steele, Salah’s unhappiness also stems from the business Liverpool did in the summer transfer window and how Wirtz and Isak were ‘named as the players to carry the club forward’.
“From conversations I had last 10 days, two weeks, that this is a deeper issue than just being benched.
“Although Salah wouldn't ever say it, I don't think he was overly convinced by the summer business and how Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak were being named as the players to carry Liverpool forward.
“The Frankfurt game away, he came off the bench late on and he could could have settled it to Florian Wirtz but he didn't, he looked frustrated at full-time and that was the night he deleted all mention of Liverpool Football Club from his Twitter profile.
“This wasn't something that happened like that and the frustration was building.”
Salah was the Premier League’s best player last season in a title-winning campaign for Liverpool, scoring 29 goals and providing 18 assists in 38 appearances.
The Egyptian has struggled to replicate that form in a second season under Slot so far, netting four times and registering three assists in 14 league appearances.
Wirtz and Isak’s numbers, however, have been even less impressive, with the Sweden international netting just once in nine Premier League appearances.
Wirtz has registered only one assist in 15 league games for Liverpool and is yet to score despite making 21 appearances in all competitions.
Liverpool Remain Keen on Semenyo
Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo shouts.
Premier League - AFC Bournemouth v Newcastle United - Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth, Britain - September 21, 2025 AFC Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo after the match Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
Despite boasting the attacking talents of Salah, Isak, Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike and Cody Gakpo, Liverpool show no signs of slowing down in the market next year.
According to GIVEMESPORT senior correspondent Fabrizio Romano, the Reds remain interested in Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo ahead of the January transfer window.
Semenyo has a £65m release clause that allows clubs to bypass negotiations with Bournemouth next month. His arrival at Anfield would see him reunite with former Bournemouth team-mate Milos Kerkez, whom Liverpool signed for £40m in June.