Liverpool: tension rises between Arne Slot and Mohamed Salah after “thrown under the bus” claim

Mohamed Salah’s explosive comments about being “thrown under the bus” after a series of benchings have strained his relationship with Arne Slot and fuelled fresh uncertainty over the Liverpool star’s future amid mounting Saudi interest.

Liverpool are trying to calm a growing storm around Mohamed Salah and head coach Arne Slot after the Egyptian forward publicly complained about being “thrown under the bus” by the club. The comments came following a 3–3 draw against Leeds United, where Salah started on the bench for a third consecutive match in the Premier League champions’ faltering title defence.

According to Al Jazeera, Salah’s frustration over reduced playing time led to a fiery post-match exchange with reporters, in which he pointed to Liverpool’s poor results and suggested that “someone” at the club wanted him out. The situation escalated when Slot then omitted Salah entirely from the travelling squad for the 1–0 Champions League win away to Inter Milan, a decision the coach later described as his own call after internal discussions.

Slot has since confirmed that he held direct talks with Salah and his representatives, insisting that he has “no reason” to want the player to leave and that selection decisions remain a purely sporting matter. He declined, however, to guarantee Salah’s long-term place in the team, stressing that further conversations would take place privately rather than in press conferences.

The disagreement comes at a sensitive time. Saudi Pro League officials have openly confirmed that Salah remains a prime target for a possible January move, keeping alive a pursuit that began with record bids in 2023. Pundits such as Jamie Carragher have urged Salah to shelve any immediate plans to leave and repair his relationship with Slot long enough to earn a proper Anfield farewell, warning that a mid-season exit could damage his legacy after almost a decade at the club.

In the short term, Liverpool must manage both the dressing-room dynamics and the sporting impact. Salah is set to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt, potentially missing a crucial run of fixtures just as speculation around his future intensifies. Whether he returns to Liverpool as a cornerstone of Slot’s project or as a player heading for Saudi Arabia could hinge on how quickly this rift is resolved behind closed doors.