Reaction has been pouring in after Mohamed Salah chose to take a grenade to Liverpool’s season following Saturday’s draw against Leeds United.
The Reds threw two points away in dramatic fashion at Elland Road, but the story of the night quickly became the Egyptian’s explosive post-match interview.
Salah claimed Slot and Liverpool had ‘thrown him under the bus‘ in an extraordinary interview with journalists in the mixed zone.
Who do you think should go, Salah or Slot?
While some Liverpool supporters will back their legend in this unseemly row, it will have left a sour taste for plenty more. The club is down right now, and Salah is sticking the boot in.
Plenty more reaction will no doubt follow in due course as the Egyptian King’s words are dissected further, but speaking on Match of the Day on Saturday night, former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy has been one of the first to issue a response.
Danny Murphy unimpressed by Mohamed Salah comments
As someone who grew up supporting the club before spending seven years in the first-team, Murphy is well-versed in the values of Liverpool Football Club.
And as the pundit said – to Kelly Cates of all people – Salah’s reaction on Saturday simply should not have happened in public.
READ MORE: Mohamed Salah has proven Jamie Carragher right in the worst way possible with selfish outburst
“We know that’s an emotional response, it doesn’t really stack up,” Murphy said. “Everyone has to keep fighting for their place and keep performing at a certain level. I don’t think he’s on his own, I think a lot of other big name players are starting to get stick and get the fanbase turn a little bit against them. Everyone’s being judged.
“It’s not true [that he’s been scapegoated]. I think you can be emotional, angry and frustrated, he’s done wonderful things for the football club, you have to keep it in the four walls of the club. Knock on the manager’s door, go and see the CEO or whoever it is, go and see the owners, do whatever you’ve got to do, express your frustration.
“By doing what he’s done, he’s now causing the team a problem and the manager a problem and making it all about him. And you just can’t do it. Whether you agree with him being left out or not, you don’t deal with it like this.”
Whose side are you on, Salah or Slot?
“I said many times before that I have a good relationship with the manager, suddenly we don’t have a relationship, I don’t know why. It’s not acceptable to me, to be honest. I don’t know why it always happens to me. ‘We throw Mo under the bus, because he’s the problem.’ I don’t think I’m the problem.”
Mohamed Salah on Arne Slot
Chris Sutton blasts ‘disrespectful’ Salah
The basis of Salah’s argument appears to be that he has been treated with disrespect by Arne Slot and others behind the scenes at Liverpool in regards to being dropped from the team.
While this is a flimsy argument at best, Murphy’s fellow BBC pundit Chris Sutton has claimed that it is actually Salah himself who is the disrespectful one in this scenario.
“Embarrassing from Mo Salah and disrespectful to his teammates and his manager,” Sutton posted on X. “Salah is no different from any other player. If a player’s form drops as Salah’s has he is the same as anyone else and has to accept being benched… but he thinks he’s too good to be benched sadly.”
Former Liverpool player turned commentator Jim Beglin felt a similar way, with the tide seemingly turning against Salah.
“As great as he has been for the club, Salah has just thrown Liverpool under the bus,” Beglin said.
There’s no question that Salah would have debated doing his interview with his advisors who plot his every move meticulously. But it looks as though they may have seriously misjudged this one.
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