Salah Voices Concerns Over Liverpool Future Amidst Benchings

Mohamed Salah made international headlines on December 6 after addressing concerns regarding his position at Liverpool and head coach Arne Slot. This followed his benching for a third consecutive Premier League match against Leeds United.

Salah later returned to the squad as a substitute in the match against Brighton & Hove Albion, but the situation had already raised questions about his future at Anfield. Having recently returned from the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where his team was eliminated by Senegal in the semi-finals, uncertainty looms over Salah’s long-term commitment to the club.

In an interview with reporters in Leeds, Salah stated, “How I see it now is like you throw Mo under the bus because he is the problem in the team now. But I don’t think I am the problem. I have done so much for this club. The respect, I want to get. I don’t have to go every day fighting for my position because I earned it. I am not bigger than anyone but I earned my position. It’s football. It is what it is.”

Salah’s remarks have resonated with former Liverpool star Didi Hamann, who expressed his surprise at the forward’s sentiments. Hamann suggested that a move to Saudi Arabia or another destination could be the “best solution” for Salah. He remarked, “There have been poor performances without Salah as well, so it’s unfair to put it all on him. But Salah’s quote about not wanting to have to prove his worth every day struck me. That is exactly how it is.”

Hamann further emphasized, “When you bring in players like Isak, Ekitiké, and Wirtz, and you have Gakpo, you have to fight for your place regardless of the past. The main question is: is Salah prepared to sit on the bench for a few games if the manager feels someone else is better, even if it’s a Champions League semi-final or final? If not, it’s probably best to part ways.”

He also noted, “I don’t see why Salah and Wirtz can’t work together. Salah found it hard to score from open play since Christmas last year. The question is how much Salah is still capable of affecting games. He is 32 or 33 now; with offensive players, six months can make a huge difference.”

Hamann continued, “He could have gone to Saudi Arabia last season and didn’t. I’m not sure he wants to go there. But if you ask me today, the best solution would be to part ways. It would probably benefit him and the team. He came out with statements I didn’t really understand, and if he stays, it lingers around the camp. Every time he doesn’t play, the manager gets asked why, and it becomes a distraction.”

Salah currently has 18 months remaining on his contract with Liverpool, and it appears this may be his final deal with the club, regardless of developments following his return to Anfield this month and in the upcoming summer.

Clubs in the Saudi Pro League are likely to revisit their interest in signing Salah, one of the most prominent Arab and Muslim players in global football. Although speculation about his departure has quieted for now, the coming weeks will be crucial for the 33-year-old as he navigates his role in Slot’s squad and decides whether to ‘fight’ for his position in the starting lineup.