Salah: 'The club is throwing me under the bus'

Mohamed Salah hinted that he might leave Liverpool as early as January and claimed the club is "throwing him under the bus" amid a severe decline in form.

In a seven-and-a-half-minute interview on Saturday evening (6/12), the Egyptian star admitted his relationship with coach Arne Slot has fractured and said he is being made the “problem” of the championship-winning team. Premier League.

Salah was not played for a single minute at Elland Road when Liverpool drew 3-3 with Leeds United. Previously, he was also benched in matches against West Ham and Sunderland. This is the first time in his Liverpool career that Salah has not started two consecutive Premier League games. Before the West Ham away game last weekend, he had started 53 straight league matches.

According to ESPN, Salah said: “I can’t believe I had to sit on the bench for 90 minutes. This is the third time. The first time in my career. I’m very disappointed. I have done so much for the club over the years, especially last season. It feels like the club is throwing me under the bus. That’s how I feel."

“Someone wants me to take all the blame. The club promised me a lot in the summer. Now I’m on the bench, so you could say they didn’t keep their word. I used to have a good relationship with Slot. Now there’s nothing between us and I don’t know why. It seems like someone doesn’t want me at the club.”

Salah is preparing for the Africa Cup of Nations with the Egyptian national team after the Brighton game at Anfield next Saturday. Salah added: “I called my parents and told them to come watch the Brighton match. It doesn’t matter if I play or not. I will enjoy my time at Anfield and say goodbye to the fans before the AFCON because I don’t know what will happen when I’m there.”

Salah has scored 250 goals in 420 appearances for Liverpool and signed a two-year contract extension in April after a brilliant season that helped the team win the Premier League. However, he has only scored 5 goals in 18 games this season and feels he is not being treated with the respect he deserves.

He said: “That is unacceptable to me. If it were another club, they would protect their player. But now it’s ‘throw Mo under the bus because he’s the team’s problem.’ I don’t think I’m the problem. I don’t have to fight for my spot every day because I earned it through my ability. I’m not bigger than the club. But I deserve to be treated properly.”

“It hurts. What I’ve done for this club, it pains me. I understand the club, I’ve been here many years. Tomorrow, (commentator) Carragher will criticize me, but that’s okay.”

Salah was once linked with a blockbuster move to Saudi Arabia. When asked if he might transfer to the Saudi Pro League in January, Salah said: “I don’t want to answer that question because the club might interpret it differently."

“I have done too much for the club. I love the fans, I love the club. I don’t know what will happen next. I have scored more than anyone of this generation since coming to the Premier League. I don’t think anyone has scored more. For example, Harry Kane hasn’t scored in 10 games, only 1–2 goals. The media say: ‘Harry will score again soon.’ But now it’s: ‘Mo should be benched.’”

He added: “I don’t know if someone wants me to leave. Don’t put words in my mouth. This is just my feeling. I asked but got no explanation. I know I won’t play. I just have to accept it. Arne told me yesterday. I also had a meeting and he knows how I feel.”

When asked if he regrets signing the new contract, Salah replied: “That question hurts even more. I will never regret signing with this club. I thought it would be the contract to finish my career here. But now things aren’t going as planned."

“In my mind, why does it have to end this way? Months ago I was receiving awards, now everything is going this way? The whole team is out of form, but I’m the one who has to defend myself. I don’t feel abandoned by my teammates. They know how much I love them and always support them. There’s a lot of affection between us.”

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