Mohamed Salah’s relationship with Arne Slot faces renewed scrutiny as Liverpool quietly assesses a surprise exit for a Reds legend, which could test the leadership at Anfield
14:34, 24 Jan 2026
Mohamed Salah could become Liverpool's next vice-captain if Andy Robertson leaves
Mohamed Salah could become Liverpool's next vice-captain if Andy Robertson leaves(Image: Lewis Storey, Getty Images)
Liverpool could soon face an unexpected leadership dilemma if Andy Robertson departs Anfield.
Robertson’s contract at Liverpool is set to expire at the end of the season, with the Reds having opened preliminary discussions with Tottenham over a potential January transfer. Talks remain at an early stage and no agreement has been reached at this point.
The Reds' long-standing appreciation of Robertson’s service, professionalism and commitment has played a role in the club’s wider thinking as they consider a possible sale. Arne Slot appointed the left-back as the vice-captain last summer. Robertson, who also captains Scotland at international level, stepped into the role following Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure to Real Madrid.
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The Scotsman's potential exit would leave a vacancy in the club’s leadership group, requiring Slot to pick another deputy to Virgil van Dijk.
On paper, Mohamed Salah appears to be the obvious successor. He is Liverpool’s most senior attacker and is one of the longest-serving players in the squad.
In previous seasons, Salah has worn the armband in cup competitions and is widely regarded as one of the dressing room’s dominant figures. However, the situation is far from straightforward, with Slot's relationship with Salah already being strained after the Egyptian's outburst after the draw to Leeds last month.
Andy Robertson in action for Liverpool
Andy Robertson is in talks over a potential move to Tottenham(Image: Getty Images)
While the situation seems to have been resolved, there are still underlying tensions, and Liverpool’s openness to selling him in the summer further complicates the picture.
Snubbing Salah, though, carries its own risks. The forward has never hidden his frustration when he feels overlooked, and bypassing him for a leadership role could easily reignite the hostility.
The Egyptian has long viewed himself as a leader within the Liverpool squad and has previously shown frustration when that status has not been formally recognized.
That sensitivity surfaced in 2020 when Jurgen Klopp opted against handing Salah the armband for a Champions League group-stage match against Midtjylland. With Liverpool already qualified for the knockout rounds, Klopp rotated heavily for the final game in Denmark.
Jordan Henderson, Van Dijk, Alisson and Robertson were all rested, leaving Salah as one of the most experienced players in the starting XI. Despite that, the captaincy was instead given to a then 22-year-old Alexander-Arnold — a decision that reportedly left Salah visibly unhappy.
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"Honestly, I was very disappointed," Salah told Diario AS after the game. "I was expecting to be the captain. But it's a manager's decision, so I accept it."
Klopp later acknowledged that the decision may have been a mistake, conceding that handing the armband to Alexander-Arnold on the day was not the right call.
However, he also maintained that the captaincy should not necessarily have gone to Salah either, noting that an even longer-serving member of the squad had been overlooked in the process.