Mohamed Salah slams Liverpool treatment, hints at January exit

Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah has slammed the club for treating him unfairly and putting the blame on his shoulders for the team’s poor run of form. In an interview on Saturday, he admitted his relationship with head coach Arne Slot has broken down and said he is being made a scapegoat by the Premier League champions.

Salah didn’t get to play in a 3-3 draw against Leeds United at Elland Road on Saturday evening. Furthermore, he was also dropped to the bench against West Ham United and Sunderland.

“I could not believe I am sitting on the bench for 90 minutes,” Salah said. “That’s the third time. It’s the first time in my career, I think. Very disappointed, done so much for this club over years, especially last season, It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That’s how I feel it.

“Someone wants me to get all the blame. [The] club promised me a lot in summer. Now I’m on bench so can say they haven’t kept those promises. I used to have a good relationship [with Slot]. Now we don’t have any relationship and I don’t know why. [It] seems like someone does not want me in the club.

After Liverpool takes on Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday, the Reds will face Brighton at Anfield on Saturday. Salah said he is not sure if he would return to Anfield after playing for Egypt in the AFCON.

“I call my mum and dad told them to come to the Brighton game,” Salah added. “It doesn’t matter if I play or not. I’m going to enjoy it. Just going to be at Anfield and say goodbye to the fans before the African Cup, because I don’t know what is going to happen when I am there.”

Salah has scored just five goals in 18 appearances in all competitions this season, however, he said he is not getting the respect he deserves from the club.

“It’s not acceptable to me to be fair,” he said. “If I was somewhere else, every club would protect its players. Now, it’s ‘Throw Mo under the bus because he is a problem in a team.’ I don’t think I am a problem. I am not fighting for my position every day because I have earned it. I am not bigger than the club. I am not bigger than anything. But I have earned it.

“It is what it is. In football you never know, but I don’t accept this situation. I have done so much for this club. I am sorry, I love [Erling] Haaland because I love him. I am the current top scorer in the Premier League. Win the league in style.

“Absolutely, it hurts me. What I have done, it hurts. I know the club well, I have been here for many years. Tomorrow, [former player and now pundit Jamie] Carragher is going to criticize me but that’s fine.”