Omitted from Arne Slot‘s Champions League squad ahead of their trip to face Inter Milan midweek, there were question marks over whether Mohamed Salahwould ever play for the Dutchman’s Liverpool ever again. That question was answered on Saturday afternoon as the Egyptian entered the fray against Brighton & Hove Albion in the 25th minute – and his cryptic post-match post on social media has caught the attention of many.
Who knows whether Salah, who added another assist to his tally after Hugo Ekitike nodded in the winger’s teasing delivery, would have played if Joe Gomez hadn’t gone down injured within the first half hour of play on Merseyside – but he did. Dominik Szoboszlai moved to right-back and Salah assumed his normal spot on the flank.
His assist for Ekitike’s second of the affair aside, Salah was at the races as soon as he replaced Gomez early on, and it was the sort of display that perhaps proved his point. “I could not believe I was sitting on the bench for 90 minutes,” he said following his side’s 3-3 draw with Leeds United. That’s the third time. It’s the first time in my career I think.”
“I am very disappointed, I have done so much for this club over years, especially last season, It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus,” the former Fiorentina man said before adding: “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 I can say they haven’t kept those promises.”
Mohamed Salah’s Post After 2-0 Win Over Brighton Goes Viral
A bit of back-and-forth between Salah and club legend Jamie Carragher ensued after the incendiary remarks, but it’s now clear that Slot, who was the beneficiary of the wide man’s goal-getting exploits last season as his men won the title at a canter, is keen to let bygones be bygones for the betterment of everyone associated with the club.
Salah’s post-match antics also suggest that he is happy to put any ill feeling behind him so that he can focus on Liverpool winning matches, having last lost in the Premier League on November 22. He took to X (formerly Twitter) to post some footage of a moment between himself and those in the home end of Liverpool’s 61,276-seater.
As a way of thanking the Anfield faithful for their undying support, Salah – widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers to ever play for Liverpool – took his time to walk around the Anfield turf, clapping every fan in sight. With a smile from ear to ear, the 33-year-old enjoyed a warm welcome back from the supporters.
“Mo Salah, Mo Salah running down the wing!” chanted the home fans as Salah paraded around the pitch, showcasing the fact he still retains the full support of the fan base.
This isn’t the first time in recent memory that Salah has taken to social media to reveal how he feels about the situation. Albeit to Carragher’s displeasure, he posted a picture of him pumping iron in the club gym while his teammates were thinking about their Champions League meeting with Inter, which they went on to win 1-0.
Arne Slot Speaks Out About Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool Future
In the aftermath of their 2-0 victory over Brighton on home soil, Slot was (as expected) asked a series of questions about the winger’s return. “There is no issue to resolve, for me he is now same as any other player. You talk to your players if you are happy or unhappy with things, but there is nothing for me to talk about what happened after Leeds,” he said.
Salah will now turn his attentions to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which starts on December 21 and runs through until January 18. Just like they did against Inter, Liverpool may have to cope without the talisman for up to six weeks – which could see him miss some crucial games against the likes of Leeds United and Arsenal.
When asked whether he hopes Salah will be back after Egypt’s AFCON campaign, Slot said: “Yes. He’s a Liverpool player and when he’s there, I like to use him when we need him. Today he didn’t start, as he did a few times before now, but in the season before he started almost every game, but when he came on, he had a performance like you would want him to give.”
Mo’s going to go to AFCON now, I hope he’s going to do very well and, in the meantime, we have to play here without him with not that many players available at the moment,” Slot concluded. Now sixth in the table after extending their unbeaten streak in the league to four games, Liverpool face Thomas Frank’s Spurs next Saturday.