Mohamed Salah Archives

Liverpool boss Slot to hold talks with unhappy Salah

Liverpool boss Arne Slot said he would speak to Mohamed Salah on Friday morning before deciding on the forward’s availability for this weekend’s match against Brighton.

The Egypt international accused Liverpool of throwing him “under the bus” after he was left on the bench for last week’s 3-3 draw at Leeds, the third match in a row that he did not start.

Salah also said he had no relationship with the Dutch manager when he spoke to reporters after the match at Elland Road.

The 33-year-old was left out of the squad for Tuesday’s Champions League match at Inter Milan, which Liverpool won 1-0, posting a picture on social media of himself alone in a gym at the club’s training ground.

“I will have a conversation with Mo this morning; the outcome of that conversation determines how things will look tomorrow,” Slot told his pre-match press conference.

“I think the next time I speak about Mo should be with him and not in here. You can keep on trying, but there is not much more to say about it.

“After the Sunderland game (a 1-1 draw on December 3 in which Salah came on as a second-half substitute), there were a lot of conversations between his representatives and ours, between him and me.”

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Slot batted away further questions from reporters about the forward, but said: “I have no reason not wanting him to stay, and that is a little bit of an answer to your question.”

Salah, who signed a new two-year contract at Liverpool in April, which made him one of the highest-paid players in the Premier League, is due to join the Egypt squad for the Africa Cup of Nations after Saturday’s Brighton game at Anfield.

The length of his absence depends on how far Egypt go in the competition in Morocco, with the final taking place on January 18.

Salah, third in Liverpool’s all-time scoring charts with 250 goals in 420 appearances, has won two Premier League titles and one Champions League triumph during his spell on Merseyside.

He scored 29 Premier League goals last season as Liverpool romped to a 20th English league title, but has managed just four league goals in 13 appearances this season.

Liverpool are 10th in the table after a shocking run, with just two wins in their past 10 Premier League games.

Salah has been linked with a move to the lucrative Saudi Pro League.

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Liverpool great Gerrard opens up on Salah’s ’emotional’ outburst

Liverpool great Steven Gerrard believes the club still needs Mohamed Salah as he urged the star forward to “reverse away” from an extraordinary outburst where he accused the faltering Premier League champions of “throwing him under the bus”.

The Egypt international was omitted from the squad that travelled to Italy for Tuesday’s 1-0 Champions League win at Inter Milan following a blistering attack on manager Arne Slot and the club hierarchy after being left on the bench for last weekend’s 3-3 draw at Leeds.

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher labelled Salah a “disgrace” for his comments, but Gerrard urged the player and management to reunite for the good of everyone at Anfield.

“He’s obviously really upset he’s not playing, which I respect,” former Liverpool captain Gerrard told TNT Sports.

“A couple of lines about throwing people under the bus, wrong. Need to reverse a little bit away from that, to deal with that with the manager.”

Gerrard added bust-ups between players and management were nothing new.

“I’ve seen this and I’ve lived it with (Luis) Suarez when he fell out with Brendan (Rodgers) face to face.

I’ve been there and done it myself. I did the Salah statements in 30 seconds against (Manchester) United and got sent off,” he explained.

“So no one’s perfect and we’ve all had head loss as players, where we’ve done emotional things,” said Gerrard, who hoped Salah would eventually realise he had been a “bit emotional and a bit hasty”.

Salah’s remarks sparked reports that Liverpool’s third-highest goalscorer in history could leave Anfield in January despite signing a lucrative new contract in April.

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The 33-year-old posted a picture of himself training alone in Liverpool’s weights room on Tuesday.

Salah’s outburst has piqued interest in Saudi Arabia, with a source at the kingdom’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) telling AFP it will do “whatever it can” to buy him.

Gerrard, however, said: “At the end of the day, Liverpool need Mo Salah back playing well, scoring goals because he is the best player, the best scorer, and he will help them get out of this.

If this goes on, this is bigger than what we all know and what we see.”

Salah is set to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations after next weekend’s home Premier League match against Brighton.

An unused substitute at Leeds, Salah told reporters at Elland Road: “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.”

Salah made his explosive comments in the midst of a dismal season for both him and Liverpool.

He has played a key role in Liverpool’s two Premier League titles and one Champions League triumph during his iconic spell on Merseyside.

But he has scored just four goals in 13 Premier League appearances this season, with Liverpool 10th in the table.

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Salah posts training picture amid uncertainty over Liverpool future

Mohamed Salah reported for Liverpool training on Tuesday as doubts continued to grow about the star striker’s future at the Premier League champions.

The Egypt forward was left out of Liverpool’s squad for their Champions League tie at Inter Milan on Tuesday following his extraordinary public criticism of Reds manager Arne Slot after he was left on the bench for the third consecutive game.

Salah drove himself to Liverpool’s training base in Kirkby on Tuesday and posted an Instagram picture of himself in the facility’s gym.

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The 33-year-old said after the 3-3 draw with Leeds on Sunday that he felt like he had been “thrown under the bus” by Liverpool and no longer had a relationship with Slot, sparking reports the Egyptian could be on his way out of Anfield in January despite signing a new contract in April.

Saudi clubs are reportedly preparing to make offers for Salah.

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Asked at a pre-match press conference in Milan on Monday, whether Salah, who has scored 250 times for Liverpool since signing from Roma in 2017, had played his last game for the Reds, Slot replied: “I have no clue.

“I cannot answer that question at this point in time.

“He has every right to feel what he feels, but he doesn’t have the right to share it with the media.”

Salah, who was not even used as a substitute at Elland Road, is set to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations after next weekend’s home match against Brighton in the Premier League.

He said he was “very, very disappointed” to have again been named among the substitutes at Leeds, adding: “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.”

Salah made his explosive comments in the midst of a dismal season for both him and Liverpool.

The Reds have won just four times in 15 matches in all competitions and sit 13th in the Champions League with nine points after being thumped 4-1 at home by PSV Eindhoven in their most recent European outing.

Salah has played a key role in Liverpool’s two Premier League titles and one Champions League triumph during his iconic spell on Merseyside.

But he has been a shadow of his former self during Liverpool’s struggles this season — the title-holders are 10th in the table — with just four goals in 13 top-flight appearances.

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Arne Slot breaks silence on rift rumours with Mohamed Salah

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot insisted that his relationship with Mohamed Salah has not broken down, even after dropping the star attacker from their trip to face Inter Milan in the Champions League.

“That’s not the way I feel, but he has the right to feel how he feels things. I haven’t felt that at all,” said Liverpool coach Slot to supporters.

The Egyptian forward was not taken to Italy despite training earlier in the day with the first team, after saying he felt like he had been “thrown under the bus” by the club and no longer had a relationship with Slot.

Salah made those comments after he was left on the bench for the third consecutive game in a 3-3 draw against Leeds.

Asked whether Salah, who has scored 250 times for Liverpool since signing from Roma in 2017, had played his last game for the Reds, Slot said: “I have no clue.”

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“I cannot answer that question at this moment in time,” added Arne Slot. “He has every right to feel what he feels, but he doesn’t have the right to share it with the media.”

Liverpool are struggling in ninth place in the Premier League and are in a crisis of form, which has only been made worse by Salah’s criticism of Slot.

Liverpool have won just four times in 15 matches in all competitions and sit 13th in the Champions League with nine points after being thumped 4-1 at home by PSV Eindhoven in their most recent European outing.

Mohamed Salah is the club’s highest-paid player in history, having signed a new contract in April, and played a key role in Liverpool’s two Premier League titles and one Champions League triumph during his iconic spell on Merseyside.

But Salah has been a shadow of his former self during Liverpool’s struggles this season; the Premier League champions are now ninth in the table, with just four goals in 13 top-flight appearances.

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Salah dropped from Liverpool’s clash against Inter Milan

Mohamed Salah has been dropped from Liverpool squad for their Champions League tie away to Inter Milan following incendiary remarks about his relationship with manager Arne Slot and his treatment by the Premier League club.

The Egyptian forward was not included in the squad announced by Liverpool on Monday, despite training earlier in the day with the first team.

Salah said on Saturday he felt like he had been “thrown under the bus” by Liverpool and that he no longer had a relationship with Slot after he was left on the bench for the third consecutive game in a 3-3 draw at Leeds and not even introduced as a substitute.

But several British media reports said Salah’s omission for Tuesday’s game in Italy was not for disciplinary reasons but rather a selection decision.

The BBC said his removal from the squad was taken with the full support of Slot.

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It said that it is in the best interest of all parties involved for Salah to have a brief period away from selection, given the nature and timing of the player’s public comments.

The BBC added “it is understood this is a decision which relates solely to squad selection and there will be no formal disciplinary action taken by the club”.

After next weekend’s home match against Brighton, Salah is set to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations.

The 33-year-old is Liverpool’s third-highest goalscorer of all time with 250 goals in 420 appearances for the club.

But Salah has been a shadow of his former self during Liverpool’s struggles this season — the Premier League champions are now ninth in the table — with a mere four goals in 13 top-flight appearances.

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Virgil van Dijk opens up on Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool omission

Virgil van Dijk says Mohamed Salah omission from Liverpool’s team for a second successive match shows no player at the club has “unlimited credit”.

The Egypt international was an unused substitute for Sunday’s win at West Ham and was on the bench for the 1-1 draw at home to Sunderland on Wednesday.

Virgil van Dijk opens up on Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool omission

It was the first time in his Anfield career that he had not started in back-to-back league matches.

The forward was brought on for the second half against Sunderland but struggled to make an impact and is now goalless in five matches.

Salah has scored just four Premier League goals for the struggling defending champions this season, in stark contrast to his haul of 29 last season.

Liverpool captain Van Dijk was asked after the Sunderland draw whether Salah’s omission had sent a message to the dressing room.

“That’s always been the case,” he said. “It’s not like you have unlimited credit; everyone has to perform.

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“Mo has been doing that but the manager made that decision in the last two games. We all want the best for the club.

“I am pretty sure Mo will still be a big part of what we are trying to achieve because he is an amazing player and he has shown it consistently.”

Van Dijk praised playmaker Florian Wirtz, whose shot deflected in off Sunderland defender Nordi Mukiele for a late Liverpool equaliser that left them eighth in the table.

The German, who joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer transfer window for £116 million ($155 million), is showing encouraging signs after a tough start to life at Anfield.

“There’s a very good reason why a club like us bought him,” said Van Dijk. “He’s an outstanding, world-class player, in my eyes, who can only become even better, but it will take a bit of time.

“For him he has to stay level-headed. Don’t get dragged into the outside world of when it’s very good or very bad, and don’t get dragged into the numbers game.

“Nowadays there are a lot of eyes on you if you score goals or have an assist or keep clean sheets, but it is also about what you see and the contribution you have for the team.”

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Slot admits ‘superhuman’ Salah unhappy after West Ham snub

Arne Slot admitted on Tuesday that “superhuman” Mohamed Salah was unhappy about being omitted from Liverpool’s team for their vital 2-0 win against West Ham, but praised his attitude.

The Egypt forward was an unused substitute at the London Stadium on Sunday as Liverpool boss Slot made changes following a terrible run of nine defeats in 12 games in all competitions.

Misfiring Salah, 33, has scored just four Premier League goals this season — in stark contrast to his haul of 29 last season, a tally that won him the Golden Boot.

Slot told reporters that during his reign as manager at Anfield, Salah had been a “superhuman being” but that he had not been at his best in recent weeks.

“As with all players around the world, there are also phases in your time at the club that you are human,” he said. “But he’s scored so many goals for us, and I’m sure he will in the future.”

Slot, whose eighth-placed team hosts high-flying Sunderland on Wednesday, said he was not surprised by Salah’s reaction to being left out, praising his professionalism.

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“That’s a normal reaction from a player that’s good enough to play for us,” he said. “And I say it mildly, because he’s been so outstanding for this club for so many years, and will be for us in the future.

“So, yeah, of course, a player isn’t happy when they’re not playing. He wasn’t the only one who wasn’t happy that he wasn’t starting, I can tell you.”

The Dutchman said that Salah had been supportive of his teammates.

“You cannot be a player that’s available every three days and play on that high standard if you go with your emotions,” he said.

“But Mo is so disciplined, knows what to do to stay fit, and no matter if he plays well, doesn’t play well, if he plays or if he doesn’t play, he will always be that top professional.”

Slot said that Salah was scheduled to leave for the Africa Cup of Nations on December 15.

“As always in these situations, there’s a player involved, there’s the nation involved — Egypt in this situation — and the club. And there are always talks about what is best for all three of us,” he said.

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Salah’s 250th Liverpool goal sinks Villa as Arsenal cruise at Burnley

Mohamed Salah’s 250th Liverpool goal ended the Premier League champions’ losing streak in a 2-0 win against Aston Villa, while leaders Arsenal beat Burnley to surge seven points clear on Saturday.

Elsewhere, Manchester United were held to a 2-2 draw at struggling Nottingham Forest, and Chelsea won 1-0 at London rivals Tottenham.

After losing their previous four league games and six of their last seven in all competitions, spluttering Liverpool finally showed signs of life at Anfield.

Arne Slot’s troubled team were gifted their opening goal in first-half stoppage time when Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez’s wayward pass was intercepted by Salah, who slotted into the empty net for his fifth goal this season.

The Egyptian forward’s milestone 250th goal in all competitions for Liverpool was followed by Ryan Gravenberch’s 58th-minute deflected strike, wrapping up the Reds’ first league victory since they beat Everton on September 20.

Liverpool’s win, which leaves them third but seven points behind Arsenal, was well-timed ahead of a crucial week featuring clashes with Real Madrid and Manchester City.

Arsenal eased past Burnley 2-0, creating a five-game winning streak in the league to position themselves as firm favourites to end their painful two-decade wait to be crowned English champions.

Viktor Gyokeres headed the Gunners ahead following a Declan Rice corner in the first half at Turf Moor for his first league goal since mid-September — yet more joy for the set-piece specialists.

England midfielder Rice himself headed home to double the visitors’ lead in the 35th minute and put them in total control.

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Arsenal, who have now won nine games in a row in all competitions, have enviable options in attack, but their team is built on a rock-solid defence that has conceded just three league goals in 10 games this season.

Manchester United, seeking their fourth straight league win, led 1-0 at the City Ground courtesy of Casemiro’s first-half opener.

But Forest, who had not scored a league goal since September 20, roared back after the break as their confidence flooded back.

Morgan Gibbs-White headed the home side level in the 48th minute before Nicolo Savona tapped in just two minutes later to complete a dramatic turnaround.

But Amad Diallo levelled with a sweet volley in the 81st minute to rescue a point for United, who have been much improved in recent weeks after a poor start to the season.

Ruben Amorim, marking a year since his appointment as United manager, was disappointed to drop points but encouraged by his team’s mentality.

Forest, who last month appointed Sean Dyche as manager to replace the sacked Ange Postecoglou, remain in the relegation zone, four points behind 17th-placed Burnley.

Chelsea maintained their impressive record against Tottenham, winning 1-0 courtesy of a goal from Joao Pedro for a fifth straight Premier League victory over the north Londoners.

Enzo Maresca’s fifth-placed side trails fourth-placed Tottenham on goal difference.

Rock-bottom Wolves, reduced to 10 men in the first half following the dismissal of Emmanuel Agbadou, are eight points from safety after a miserable 3-0 defeat at Fulham.

Crystal Palace beat Brentford 2-0 and Brighton pummelled Leeds 3-0.

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Liverpool boss Slot backs Salah to end goal drought

Arne Slot said Friday the “last thing” he is worried about is Mohamed Salah finding his scoring touch again after the Liverpool forward’s barren run for the club extended to six games.

The Egypt international has not scored a Premier League goal from open play since the opening weekend of the season and was dropped from the starting line-up for Liverpool’s 5-1 win against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League in midweek.

He was also substituted late in Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United at Anfield last week after missing two big chances, even as the home team desperately chased an equaliser.

Liverpool manager Slot, whose team face Brentford on Saturday, said he did not know why Salah, who won the Premier League Golden Boot last season, was struggling.

“In general, in football, players miss chances, and Mo is a human being as well,” he said at his pre-match press conference on Friday.

“So we’re not used to him missing chances, let alone a few games in a row, but these things can happen.”

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But the Dutchman said he was confident that Salah, who has scored just two Premier League goals in eight matches this season, would re-discover his cutting edge.

“The last thing I worry about is Mo starting to score goals again,” he said.

“Because that’s what he’s done his whole life, and that’s what I expect him to do in the upcoming weeks and months for our club as well.”

Liverpool romped to the Premier League title last season and then splashed out around £450 million ($600 million) on new players in the summer transfer window.

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure to Real Madrid combined with injuries has resulted in a number of different players being used at right-back, including midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai.

Slot admitted his team were taking time to adjust, including 33-year-old Salah, who plays on the right of Liverpool’s attack.

“He’s been in promising positions often enough for him to score goals, but maybe with Trent even more, I don’t know,” he said.

“But I think in general, for every player, if you have quite a few changes in your squad during the summer, then everyone needs to find new connections again, and that goes normally like this a little bit.

“Mo is not an exception to this.”

Liverpool, who started the season with seven straight wins in all competitions, have lost their past three matches in the Premier League and are fourth in the table, four points behind leaders Arsenal.

Jeremie Frimpong and goalkeeper Alisson Becker are out of the Brentford match with hamstring injuries, while Slot is awaiting updates on Alexander Isak, who sustained a groin problem in midweek, and midfielder Ryan Gravenberch.

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Mohamed Salah among nominees for PFA Player of the Year award

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah was among six players nominated for the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Men’s Player of the Year award on Friday.

The 33-year-old played a key role in Liverpool’s Premier League title triumph last season with 29 goals and 18 assists.

The Egypt star was voted Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers’ Association, securing almost 90 percent of the votes, marking the biggest winning margin this century, and is the firm favourite to land the PFA prize.

Mohamed Salah is joined on the shortlist by Liverpool team-mate Alexis Mac Allister, Arsenal’s Declan Rice, Cole Palmer of Chelsea, Newcastle striker Alexander Isak and Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes.

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Palmer, who won the PFA Young Player of the Year award for 2023-24, was a surprise choice for the list given his struggles for Chelsea last season.

Rice starred in midfield for Arsenal, hitting a career-high nine goals while adding 10 assists in 52 appearances in all competitions.

Sweden striker Isak scored 23 goals for Newcastle as they qualified for the Champions League and ended a 56-year trophy drought by winning the League Cup.

Fernandes was one of United’s few bright spots in the club’s worst top-flight campaign since 1973-74, with eight league goals and 10 assists.

This year’s awards ceremony will be held in Manchester on August 19.

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