As of Tuesday 9 December there was no concrete news about the future of the Egyptian King Mohamed Salah with Liverpool. The only information we have is that Salah will not be joining his Liverpool squad after he was left out and will not accompany the team to Italy for the Champions League game against Inter Milan, a decision taken by the club board and manager Arne Slot.
All this after Salah showed his disappointment with the club and coach after he started on the bench in three consecutive matches, saying in explosive remarks he had felt Liverpool had “thrown him under the bus” because of his lack of goals this season as the team struggles.
Salah also looks likely to miss Liverpool’s Premier League home game against Brighton on Saturday.
It is also understood there will be no formal disciplinary financial action taken by the club.
The club has advised Salah to join Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) scheduled to be held in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January.
Salah’s clash with his club has since been the talk of the world, with and against, including naturally reactions from Egypt and England.
One of the first responses following the bus comment came from former English striker Wayne Rooney. “If I was one of his teammates, I wouldn’t be happy at all with what he said. This is when they need him most. If anything, Mo Salah has thrown Liverpool under the bus with his words. He’s either got to speak to the manager, and put something out, and try to put it right, or leave the football club… it needs to be sorted out quickly… he is absolutely destroying his legacy”.
Liverpool’s one and only Ballon d’Or winner Michael Owen addressed Salah directly: “I can imagine how you’ve carried this team for a long time and won everything there is to win. But this is a team game and you simply can’t publicly say what you’ve said. You’re going to AFCON in a week. Surely you bite your lip, enjoy representing your country and see how the land lies when you get back.”
Analyst and former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher followed. “It was a disgrace with what he did. He’s chosen this time to go for the manager and try to get him sacked.”
However, Carragher told Sky Sports “have I ever criticised Mo Salah on the pitch? But interviewer David Jones caught out Carragher, retorting “well, a couple of weeks ago you said his legs had gone”.
Slot’s Premier League win rate as Liverpool manager when Salah doesn’t score is 44 per cent. When he doesn’t score or assist, it’s 31.6 per cent. When Salah scores, it’s 75 per cent. So who is the problem?
Former goalkeeper of Egypt and TV presenter Ahmed Shobeir said on his ON Sport show that it was Rooney and Carragher who most criticised Salah because of his clash with Slot.
Shobeir said he had sent a message to Salah saying he should reply to all allegations by focusing only on the field, stop talking and let the ball reply instead. “Then they will call you”.
Egyptian talk show host Amr Adeeb had this to say: “I’m not surprised by the criticism that Salah is getting from British footballers and commentators. What disappoints me is the criticism Salah is receiving from Egyptian and other Arab critics.”
* A version of this article appears in print in the 11 December, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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