Mohamed Salah (foto: Getty Images)
Arne Slot insists he is “not weak” after Mohamed Salah’s public outburst, as Jamie Carragher accuses the Egyptian’s camp of deliberately manipulating the situation to gain power.
Arne Slot is fighting to maintain control of the Liverpool dressing room as his relationship with Mohamed Salah collapses in front of the public eye. The pair are reportedly not speaking, and the Egyptian star was officially withdrawn from the squad for the Champions League clash against Inter Milan.
The move came just 24 hours after Salah’s explosive interview, in which he accused the club of breaking promises and claimed someone was trying to make him the scapegoat for Liverpool’s poor form. He has now been “punished” with a one-match exclusion — a relatively mild response that British media see as a chance for both sides to cool tensions before the weekend’s Premier League clash against Brighton.
Slot, who has faced mounting pressure over Liverpool’s slide down the table, tried to project calm when addressing the media. “I admit Salah’s statements surprised me. But a player can almost always return,” he said, attempting to keep the door open for reconciliation.
When asked directly if Salah had already played his final match for Liverpool, Slot hesitated: “I have no idea. I can’t answer that at the moment.” He admitted there has been no direct communication between himself and the Egyptian since the outburst. The only contact came through the club’s message informing Salah that he would not travel to Italy.
Critics, however, are questioning Slot’s authority after a run of poor results and high-profile dressing room tensions. The Dutchman pushed back against the perception that he has lost control: “I’m calm and polite, but that doesn’t mean I’m weak. The club must now decide what to do. You can see Salah isn’t here with us.”
Meanwhile, Jamie Carragher wasted no time in publicly calling out Salah’s behaviour, accusing the forward and his agent of staging the controversy for leverage. “What Salah did is disgraceful. This wasn’t emotional — it was planned. When Salah speaks in the mixed zone, which happens maybe four times in eight years, it’s a strategy. It’s his agent’s game to cause maximum damage and strengthen their position,” Carragher told Sky Sports.
He added: “I hope he plays for Liverpool again because he’s a great player. But if this continues, it’s hard to see how.”
The growing rift between Salah and Slot has created one of Liverpool’s most volatile situations in recent years. The outcome of this power struggle — and how the club handles its star forward — could shape not only the rest of their season but also the manager’s long-term future at Anfield.