Egyptian star voices frustration over benching, signaling possible January departure as tensions rise with Liverpool boss Arne Slot during poor team form.
Mohamed Salah has sparked fresh uncertainty over his future at Liverpool after delivering a searing post-match interview in which he suggested he may not return to the club following next month’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The remarks came as the Egyptian forward expressed deep frustration over his recent spell on the bench and an apparent breakdown in communication with head coach Arne Slot.
Liverpool’s 3–3 draw with Leeds on Saturday, a match in which the Reds twice surrendered the lead, added further pressure to a team that has managed only two wins in six games. Salah, who was left out of the starting lineup for the third consecutive match and did not play a single minute at Elland Road, said he feels he has been unfairly blamed for the club’s recent slump.
Speaking after the match, the 31-year-old said he had “never” experienced being benched in this way. “I can’t believe I’m sitting on the bench for 90 minutes,” he said. “It’s the first time in my career. I’ve done so much for this club, and now it feels like I’m being thrown under the bus.”
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Salah, one of Liverpool’s most influential players since arriving from AS Roma in 2017, said promises made to him during the summer had not been kept. He added that what had once been a strong relationship with Slot appeared to have deteriorated without explanation. “Suddenly, we don’t have a relationship,” he said. “I don’t know why. It seems like someone doesn’t want me at the club.”
The forward confirmed he will join Egypt’s AFCON camp on December 15, 2025, and hinted that his upcoming match against Brighton could be his last outing for Liverpool. “At Anfield I will say goodbye to the supporters because I’m going to AFCON,” he said. “I don’t know what will happen when I am there.”
Salah’s comments are likely to escalate speculation about a possible January move, especially after he suggested his return from international duty is far from guaranteed. “In football, you never know,” he said. “I don’t accept the situation. I’ve earned my position.”
Since joining Liverpool, Salah has become the club’s third-highest goal scorer, trailing only legends Ian Rush and Roger Hunt. Yet his latest remarks suggest a player increasingly convinced that his time at Anfield may be drawing to a close.
“I don’t think I’m the problem,” he said. “I just want the respect I’ve earned. Right now, I don’t understand why this is happening.”
