Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah couldn’t help but see the humour when reporters requested another mixed zone interview just a week after his explosive outburst. The Egyptian winger has rarely stopped for reporters during his time at the club, but he gave a sensational interview at Elland Road following the draw with Leeds.
Salah expressed his disappointment over his relationship with Liverpool boss Arne Slot and accused the club of scapegoating him after being left out of three starting line-ups. He stated: « I’m very, very disappointed to be fair. I have done so much for this club down the years, and especially last season.
« Now I’m sitting on the bench and I don’t know why. It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That is how I am feeling. I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame.
« I got a lot of promises in the summer, and so far I am on the bench for three games, so I can’t say they keep the promise. I said many times before that I had a good relationship with the manager, and all of a sudden we don’t have any relationship.
« I don’t know why but it seems to me, how I see it, that someone doesn’t want me in the club. »
Following his comments, Salah was excluded from Liverpool’s squad to face Inter Milan in the Champions League. This comes as Slot is already facing scrutiny due to Liverpool’s disappointing performance, despite winning the Premier League title last season.
Slot’s choice to bench Salah has preceded a remarkable turnaround, with Liverpool remaining undefeated across their previous five fixtures.
Before the clash with Brighton, Slot indicated he would hold discussions with the Egyptian forward, stating: « I have no reasons to not want him to stay. I will have a conversation with Mo. The outcome of that conversation determines how things will look [on Saturday]. »
The discussions evidently proved productive, as Salah returned to the matchday squad as a substitute against Brighton. The Anfield faithful welcomed him warmly when he entered the fray after just 26 minutes, replacing the injured Joe Gomez, before providing an assist for Hugo Ekitike’s second strike.
Following the match, Salah playfully declined further media interviews in the mixed zone, joking: « Two weeks in a row? No. »
When questioned about Salah’s contribution post-match, Slot praised the forward’s impact whilst maintaining discretion regarding their private discussions.
« I think he was a threat, » Slot told Sky Sports. « The first ball he touched, he almost made an assist for Mac Allister. He was constantly involved in the fact we had Mo. Pleasing to see but not a surprise.
« It was an easy decision to put him in the squad. I have said many times before what has been said between us will stay between us. We needed him and he assisted to the 2-0 which is nice for us. We have been so many times this season on the wrong side of the set-piece battle.
« He goes to the AFCON and that means for us another player down. This is what we knew before the season started. Hopefully one or two players can come back from injury. »
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