What Mohamed Salah gesture really meant after Liverpool star’s explosive Arne Slot attack

Mohamed Salah’s future at Liverpool is in serious doubt after the forward’s candid interview expressing hurt at being benched and a breakdown in his relationship with Arne Slot

What seemed like a simple wave to the travelling Kop from Mohamed Salah after Liverpool’s latest setback soon took on a deeper significance.

The Egyptian forward’s explosive post-match comments in the mixed zone – expressing his frustration at being benched for a third consecutive game, feeling scapegoated for the team’s current struggles this season and, more worryingly, alleging a total breakdown in his relationship with head coach Arne Slot – suggested he could be bidding farewell.

Indeed, Liverpool have two more matches before Salah departs for the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt, including Tuesday’s Champions League encounter at Inter and a home fixture against Brighton. However, with the January transfer window opening by the time Salah is due back at Anfield, there’s a real chance that these games could mark the end of an era for one of Liverpool’s greatest ever players, especially with the Saudi Pro League likely on high alert.

In fact, given the explosive nature of the interview at Elland Road on Saturday evening, it’s possible Salah has already made his final appearance for the Reds. He said: “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 does not want me in the club.

“I called my mum and dad and told them to come to the Brighton game. It doesn’t matter if I play or not. I’m going to enjoy it. I am just going to be at Anfield and say goodbye to the fans before the African Cup of Nations, because I don’t know what is going to happen when I am there.

“It’s not acceptable to me to be fair. If I was somewhere else, every club would protect its players. Now it’s: ‘Throw Mo under the bus because he is a problem in a team’.”

Salah seldom speaks so openly to the media – the last instance was just over a year ago when he questioned the club’s willingness to offer him a new contract – so his words will undoubtedly carry significant weight.

There was no hidden agenda, no need to decipher any cryptic messages. This is precisely what the Egyptian wanted everyone to understand.

Undeniably, being left out of the starting eleven for a third consecutive match – and not even stepping onto the pitch as Liverpool twice squandered their lead to ultimately draw 3-3 at Leeds United – is uncharted territory for the player. It’s a clear indication that, now aged 33, he’s no longer an automatic choice on the teamsheet, reports the Liverpool Echo.

It’s worth noting the Reds, despite losing nine of their previous 12 games, remained undefeated in those three matches, even if the results and performances weren’t consistently top-notch.

And while, as he admits, he’s not the only one who has underperformed this season, Salah can’t deny that his performances have been far from his best.

Indeed, the winger has previously found himself on the bench on several occasions, most notably during the Champions League matches against Galatasaray and Eintracht Frankfurt. However, he’s not the only high-profile player to be dropped by Slot this season as the Reds’ manager seeks to discover a winning formula that continues to evade the outgoing Premier League champions.

For a player so used to being the star attraction, Salah is having to come to terms with an inevitable decrease in productivity and the stark reality that he simply won’t be part of a future Liverpool hope will be led by Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and the host of other summer signings.

Salah has always reacted poorly to being benched, famously warning “there will be fire” if he spoke after being left on the bench at West Ham United in April 2024.

However, no player relishes being sidelined. Few react in this way, even though some leeway can be given considering his exceptional contributions over recent years.

Clearly, the idea of becoming a squad player – albeit one who would presumably play more often than not – doesn’t sit well with the Egyptian star.

The question now is whether Salah has irreparably damaged his relationships not only with Slot but also with the Liverpool management, with whom he’s clearly upset over what he perceives as broken promises from the summer.

Salah will undoubtedly – and perhaps justifiably – face criticism for choosing this moment, at the end of a potentially crucial week for Slot’s immediate and long-term future, to voice grievances that have evidently been simmering for a while.

At a time when Liverpool need unity to turn around a faltering season, Salah has chosen to draw attention to his personal issues. It’s not a good look, especially for a club that prefers to handle such matters internally.

But should this be a calculated move to position himself against the embattled manager in the hearts of the fanbase, there can only be one victor in the unforgiving reality of Liverpool’s hierarchy. And it certainly won’t be the player publicly discussing the prospect of departing come January.

Monday’s training session in front of the press ahead of the trip to Italy will reveal much. Should Salah be absent, this apparent power struggle may well have sealed his fate at Anfield.

It was following the Southampton match in November last year that the Egyptian confessed he was “more out than in” when questioned about his Anfield future during the contract standoff.

Now, just months after signing that two-year extension, Salah appears further from the club than ever. All good things must come to an end – but this isn’t the conclusion either party envisioned.