Mohamed Salah, the talismanic forward who propelled Liverpool to Premier League glory last season, has unleashed a blistering attack on the club and manager Arne Slot, claiming he has been scapegoated and “thrown under the bus” amid a dismal title defence.
In an extraordinary post-match interview after Saturday’s chaotic 3-3 draw at Leeds United, where Salah remained an unused substitute for the third successive game, the Egyptian expressed fury at his demotion.
“It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus,” he told reporters at Elland Road. “Someone wanted me to get all the blame. I had a good relationship with the manager, and all of a sudden we don’t have any relationship.”
Salah, who signed a two-year extension in April tying him to Anfield until 2027, hinted at a potential January exit, saying the upcoming home clash with Brighton next weekend could be his last.
“In football you never know,” he added, his voice laced with betrayal. “I have done so much for this club … I don’t have to fight every day for my position because I earned it.”
The 33-year-old’s grievances stem from Liverpool’s stuttering form: six defeats in their last seven league outings, including a 4-1 Champions League thrashing by PSV Eindhoven on 26 November, Salah’s most recent start.
This season, he has mustered just five league goals from 16 starts, a sharp drop from his 34-goal haul that clinched the title, drawing criticism for lapses in defensive effort.
Slot, the Dutch coach who succeeded Jürgen Klopp in the summer, defended his decision to bench Salah, praising him as a “top professional” but insisting tactical tweaks were needed to arrest the slump.
Liverpool’s woes have intensified scrutiny on Slot, whose side sits perilously outside the top four despite their status as champions. The late equaliser from Leeds’ Manor Solomon, capping a frantic comeback from 2-0 down, only amplified the chaos, with fans chanting for Salah during the match.
Salah, third on Liverpool’s all-time scoring list with 250 goals in 420 appearances, reaffirmed his love for the club, “My kids will always support it”, but drew a line. “This situation is not acceptable,” he said.
“I’m not the problem.”
