Mohamed Salah always knows how to seize opportunities. It was his ability to seize the perfect opportunity that took the Egyptian star to the top, where he affirmed his position as one of Liverpool's great legends for the past eight and a half years.
Similarly, every time he rarely but often causes controversy when interacting with the media, Salah clearly understands the impact of each of his words. This time, he caused a stir in public opinion when sharing that he was "thrown" by the club during the recent decline.
"Someone wants me to take full responsibility. The club has promised me a lot in the summer. Now I have to sit on the bench, so I have the right to say that they do not keep their promises.
I used to have a good relationship with Arne Slot. There is nothing left now, and I don't understand why. It seems like someone doesn't want me to stay," Salah said.
In a 6-goal fiery match that ended with a score of 3-3 against Leeds United, the focus should have been on the developments on the pitch. But for Salah, things are different. Despite being on the bench, he still dominated the post-match titles, which is not uncommon for a player who is too used to standing in the center of the storm.
Less than 8 months ago, Salah and Slot enjoyed their most glorious moments together. Liverpool won the Premier League in front of thousands of fans at Anfield.
At that time, Salah's 2-year contract extension was not even complete. He ended last season with 34 goals in all competitions and a series of individual awards, including the PFA Best Player of the Year award.
But now, as Liverpool's journey to defend the title is seriously fading, the relationship between Salah and Slot seems to have cracked to the point of being beyond saving. Last season, the Egyptian striker himself said that Slot's opportunity for him to focus on attacking was the reason for his explosive performance.
In February, famous representative Ramy Abbas Issa even publicly praised Slot on social media, calling him "excellent at work". However, the situation has now reversed. Liverpool have won just four of their last 15 games in all competitions, and Salah has failed to make a victim of that disastrous run of decline.
"I don't know if anyone wants me to leave or not. Don't say anything. This is just my feeling. I asked but did not receive an explanation. I know I will not play against Leeds. Slot told me the day before in a meeting. He understands my feelings," Salah added.
Just a few days ago, Slot praised Salah's professionalism after he was pushed to the bench against West Ham, affirming that the 33-year-old player still handled things very well. This is the first time Salah has started from the bench in a Premier League match since April 2024.
Salah's explosive form will certainly create an emotional reaction from fans - who have honored him as the "Egyptian King" for nearly a decade at Anfield.
However, if you look at the problem from a more alert perspective, many people may see his statements as simply a complaint from a big star who is fighting the reality that his glory is no longer as brilliant as before.
