By Michael Nsikan Richard – December 7th 2025
THE EXPLOSIVE INTERVIEW
In the aftermath of Liverpool’s 3-3 stalemate at Leeds this past Saturday, December 6, 2025, Salah sat down for an extensive seven-and-a-half-minute discussion where he made the striking assertion that the club has “thrown me under the bus” and revealed that his relationship with manager Arne Slot has deteriorated completely.
Being Benched
Reports from Sky Sports and ESPN indicate that Salah has found himself on the bench for 3 straight Premier League fixtures—the matches against West Ham United, Sunderland, and Leeds United. This represents an unprecedented moment in his Liverpool journey, as he’d never before missed the starting lineup in back-to-back league contests. The Egyptian international had been in the starting 11 for 53 consecutive top-flight matches prior to being left out.
During the Leeds fixture, he remained unused on the bench even as Liverpool let their advantage slip on two separate occasions.
Context
The forward’s output has fallen notably short this campaign—managing only 5 goals alongside 3 assists across 19 matches, a considerable decline from his 2024-25 showing when he topped the Premier League charts in both scoring and creative contributions. His contract was extended in April 2025, binding him to the club through 2027, following what was a stellar previous season.
Disputes over substitutions aren’t new territory for Salah—back in April 2024, he engaged in a tense touchline exchange with then-boss Jurgen Klopp after being withdrawn during a West Ham encounter, famously declaring at that moment, “If I speak, there will be fire.”
Broken Promises & Relationships
The attacker mentioned receiving “a lot of promises in the summer,” coinciding with his contract extension, yet finding himself benched for three consecutive matches suggests “they haven’t kept those promises.” Perhaps most strikingly, he addressed his connection with Slot, saying, “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.”
ESPN’s reporting reveals that Slot had notified Salah the day preceding the Leeds match that he wouldn’t feature, with the two subsequently holding a meeting where Salah voiced his concerns.
Feeling Scapegoated
Goal.com and Sports Illustrated detail how Salah perceives himself as being singled out for Liverpool’s difficulties, expressing that “someone wanted me to get all of the blame” and raising questions about the disparity in his treatment versus other players. He drew a specific parallel with Harry Kane’s situation, pointing out that when Kane endured 10 matches without finding the net, media commentary suggested he would “score for sure,” whereas for Salah the narrative becomes “he needs to be on the bench.”
His Brighton Farewell?
The Liverpool star disclosed that he’s extended invitations to his parents for next Saturday’s Anfield clash with Brighton, explaining, “I’m going to enjoy it. Just going to be at Anfield and say goodbye to the fans before the African Cup, because I don’t know what is going to happen when I am there.” His departure for Egypt’s Africa Cup of Nations squad is scheduled immediately following that fixture.
Slot’s Response
Sky Sports reports that Slot justified his choice to sideline Salah by citing tactical considerations aimed at countering Leeds’ particular strengths, conceding, “It is never an easy decision because we know what a great player he is.”
This development marks a significant crisis point for Liverpool, a club already grappling with inconsistent performances and now confronting a public rift between its iconic striker and the manager.
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