Liverpool is facing one of its most turbulent weeks in years after Mohamed Salah’s candid interview sent shockwaves through the club. In a rare public outburst, the 33-year-old forward said he felt he had been “thrown under the bus” after being dropped for three matches and omitted from the Champions League squad travelling to Inter Milan.
The reaction was immediate and fierce.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher called the remarks “a disgrace,” arguing on Sky Sports that the interview felt planned rather than emotional. “When Mo Salah stops in the mixed zone—which he’s done maybe four times in eight years—it is choreographed to cause maximum damage,” he said.
Chris Sutton, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, said the fallout had become “carnage” for Liverpool. “He’s made it all about him,” he said. “It’s selfish, and it didn’t need to become a civil war.”
A Club Under Pressure
Salah’s comments come at a fragile moment. Liverpool have won only four of their past 15 games, a run stretching back to September, and pressure on manager Arne Slot is growing.
Slot, speaking in Milan, said he was “surprised” by claims that his relationship with Salah had collapsed. He insisted he did not feel undermined. “After tomorrow, we will look at the situation,” he said. “There is always a possibility for a player to return.”
With Salah expected to leave for the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday, it remains unclear whether he will play in Liverpool’s next league fixture against Brighton.
Critics Question Timing and Motive
What has stirred the fiercest debate is the timing. Salah spoke minutes after Liverpool let slip a late equalizer in a 3-3 draw at Leeds—another blow in a difficult stretch for the reigning Premier League champions.
Carragher argued that Salah waited for the club to be “at its lowest point” before speaking out. “He’s chosen this moment to go after the manager,” he said. “Maybe even to get him sacked.”
Carragher also pointed to previous disputes, including Salah’s frustration last year over contract negotiations. “He talked about being thrown under the bus then too,” he said.
Former England captain Steph Houghton said the comments added unnecessary strain. “It probably couldn’t have come at a worse time,” she said. “It feels planned. Maybe he expected to come on at some point, and when he didn’t, that hurt his ego.”
A Tough Season Takes Its Toll
Salah’s dip in form has also coloured the discussion. After a standout season in 2024–25, he has scored only five goals in 19 games this campaign.
“This season he hasn’t been the same player,” Sutton said. “And suddenly he seems to want different rules from everyone else. It’s ridiculous.”
Wrexham defender Conor Coady added: “Something must have happened behind the scenes. But he should never go to the press like that. You put your team-mates in a bad position, and that’s the biggest mistake.”
Despite the anger, Carragher admitted he hopes Salah returns. “He is one of the greatest players the club has ever had,” he said. But he warned that the forward must show more commitment to the team than to his personal numbers.
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