Salah signed a contract extension in April after a spectacular individual season that helped Liverpool win the Premier League.
Mohamed Salah has hinted he could leave Liverpool in January, suggesting the club has “abandoned him to his fate” amid their run of poor results.
In an explosive seven-and-a-half-minute interview on Saturday night, the Egypt international admitted his relationship with manager Arne Slot has deteriorated and said he is being used as a scapegoat, calling him “a problem” for the Premier League champions.
Salah was a substitute without playing at Elland Road, where Liverpool drew 3-3 with Leeds United on Saturday night, having also been a substitute against West Ham United and Sunderland.
It is the first time in his Liverpool career that Salah has not started consecutive Premier League games, with the striker having started 53 consecutive top-flight games before last weekend’s game at the London Stadium.
“I couldn’t believe I was sitting on the bench for 90 minutes,” Salah said. “It’s the third time. I think it’s the first time in my career. I’m very disappointed, I’ve done a lot for this club over the years, especially last season. It seems like the club has abandoned me to my fate. That’s how I feel.
“Someone wants me to take all the blame. The club promised me a lot in the summer. Now I’m on the bench, so I can say they haven’t kept those promises. I used to have a good relationship (with Slot). Now we don’t have any relationship and I don’t know why. It seems like someone doesn’t want me at the club.”
Salah will travel to the African Cup of Nations to represent Egypt after Liverpool’s next home match against Brighton next Saturday.
“I called my parents and told them to come to the game against Brighton,” Salah added. “It doesn’t matter if I play or not. I’m going to enjoy it. I’ll just be at Anfield and say goodbye to the fans before the African Cup, because I don’t know what will happen when I’m there.”
Salah, who has scored 250 goals in 420 appearances for Liverpool, signed a two-year contract extension in April following a spectacular individual season that helped Liverpool win the Premier League title. He has only scored five goals in 18 games in all competitions this season; However, he stated that he is not receiving the respect he deserves from the club.
“To be honest, it’s not acceptable to me,” he said. “If I were somewhere else, any club would protect its players. Now, it’s ‘Let’s blame Mo because it’s a problem in the team’. I don’t think I’m a problem. I don’t fight for my position every day because I’ve earned it. I’m not more important than the club. I’m not more important than anything. But I’ve earned it.
“It is what it is. In football you never know, but I do not accept this situation. I have done a lot for this club. I’m sorry, I admire [Erling] Haaland because I like him. I am the current top scorer in the Premier League. Let’s win the league in style.
“Of course it hurts me. What I’ve done hurts me. I know the club well, I’ve been here for many years. Tomorrow, [el exjugador y ahora comentarista Jamie] Carragher is going to criticize me, but nothing happens.”
Salah has previously been linked with a million-dollar move to Saudi Arabia.
When asked if he could sign for the Saudi Professional League in January, Salah replied: “I don’t want to answer that question because the club will interpret me differently.
“I have done a lot for this club. I love the fans and the club a lot, I don’t know what will happen next. I have scored more goals than anyone in this generation since I came to the Premier League. I don’t think anyone has scored more. Can I give an example? It’s ridiculous, Harry Kane didn’t score in 10 games, maybe he scored one or two. All the media said: ‘Harry will score for sure’. Now they say: ‘Mo has to be on the bench.'”
He added: “I don’t know if anyone wants me to leave. Please don’t put words in my mouth. It’s just what I feel. I asked, but I don’t see an explanation. I knew I wasn’t going to play. You just have to accept it and endure. Arne told me yesterday. I had a meeting yesterday. He knows my feelings.”
When asked if he regretted signing the contract extension, Salah replied: “How difficult it is to answer that. Even the question hurts me. I will never regret signing for this club. I thought I would sign and finish my career here. Now this is not going as planned.
“In my head, why should it end like this? Five months ago I was winning awards, why are we now going in this direction? Not everyone in the team is at their best, but I’m the one who has to defend myself. There is no relation [con Slot]. Before we had a very good relationship. Now there are none. I don’t feel disappointed by my teammates. They know how much I love them and how much I support them. “There is a lot of love between us.”
