In the concluded Premier League Matchweek 15, Liverpool was held to a 3-3 draw by Leeds United. Salah was left out of the starting lineup for the third consecutive game and failed to get any playing time. After the match, Salah made explosive remarks in an interview, claiming he was "being used as the team's scapegoat" and “did not think he was the problem.”
The truth is, Salah has only played 45 minutes in the last three games, and he hasn’t started a single one of Liverpool’s recent three matches.
This is a completely new experience in Salah’s life, especially after he signed a contract extension with the club just a few months ago, and it’s clearly inconsistent with his previous stance.
Now he finds himself in a difficult and tough situation. Therefore, Salah decided to accept media interviews immediately after the game, including with Norwegian football media, to talk about his predicament.
The situation in the early hours of this morning was very sensitive, as Liverpool had just suffered a poor result and the timing was fresh. But Salah chose to speak out, and his words were very powerful with serious consequences.
Most importantly, Salah’s remarks can be seen as a counterattack against Liverpool and the head coach, as he clearly stated that someone no longer wants him at Liverpool.
So the message is clear: Salah is essentially saying that Liverpool no longer trusts him or needs him, and to cover up the team’s early-season struggles, they may be using—he says—someone at the club, using his image, using Salah to draw fire and take all the blame.
Salah looked angry, disappointed, but also surprised—surprised by the current situation, both the head coach’s and the club’s attitude.
The message of this interview is: Alright, everyone, we signed a new contract extension a few months ago, and everyone was excited then, so how did it come to this? Why am I stuck on the bench?
Why do I have to be the face of Liverpool’s difficult season? Why only me? Why is it me?
That’s what Salah is trying to convey in this interview. But everyone, please pay close attention to the consequences, because it’s obvious that the relationship between Salah and Slot will now be very difficult and complicated, as Salah chose to speak out publicly rather than behind closed doors in the dressing room.
Just minutes before Salah’s outburst, Dominik Szoboszlai told Camel Live in an interview: “We have our discussions, but I have to keep them in the dressing room; we must stay united.” Then you see Salah giving a public interview, which sends a strong signal.
Out of respect for Liverpool, their fans, and the club, as I mentioned earlier, Salah has not held any formal negotiations with Saudi Arabian clubs.
Salah has not discussed salary or contracts with Saudi teams, and Liverpool has not received any offers so far, so for now, everything is at a standstill. But Saudi clubs remain interested in him.
As I mentioned in previous videos, Saudi clubs wanted Salah last year, but he ultimately decided to stay at Liverpool. In Saudi Arabia, this is their modus operandi: if they like Bruno Fernandes, he stays on the list; if they like Vinícius Júnior, he stays on the list; if they like Antonio Rüdiger, he stays on the list; if they like Salah, he stays on the list.
So there’s no doubt that Salah is still a hot topic for the Saudis. But the most important thing now is to understand the consequences of this interview.
Because the message Salah sent to the club is very strong, as is the case with the head coach, and now the situation is clear. The relationship between Salah and Liverpool, and between Salah and Arne Slot, will be extremely tense.
Obviously, the club is shocked by such remarks, but at the same time, a player of Salah’s caliber sitting on the bench for three consecutive games is in itself a complex situation.
That’s the message Salah wants to convey: he once asked for someone from the club to communicate with him, but received no response, and instead everyone is blaming him. So the situation is very complicated.
The transfer market may ultimately solve the problem. No negotiations have started yet, but the transfer interest from the south remains strong and sincere.
Therefore, a transfer may also be a solution, because financially, with Salah’s current salary, his income will drop significantly if he moves to another European club.
So the only way is for Salah to take a voluntary pay cut and for a club to be willing to pay a high transfer fee even with the pay cut. Otherwise, to maintain his current salary level, Saudi Arabia is probably the most likely option. So let’s wait and see the consequences, but one thing is certain: overnight, this bombshell has shocked the entire market.
