The seismic tremors of Mohamed Salah’s explosive post-match interview at Elland Road continue to shake the foundations of Liverpool Football Club. After being benched for a third consecutive Premier League match, the Egyptian King took to the mixed zone to declare his relationship with manager Arne Slot “broken,” and accused the club of “throwing him under the bus”. For Arne Slot, still navigating a difficult second season, this outburst represents the ultimate test of his leadership: Can a manager survive and succeed at an elite level if he allows a star player, however great, to openly challenge the hierarchy?
The immediate response from Slot, an outwardly calm and polite man, was clinical and firm: Salah was excluded from the squad that travelled to face Inter Milan in the crucial Champions League tie. This was the only communication the Dutchman offered the player after the incendiary interview, making a public statement of authority that echoed through European football.
The Unavoidable Showdown
Slot’s rationale was clear: “I’m calm, polite – but that doesn’t mean I’m weak. It’s up to us as a club to react and you can see he isn’t here”. This response firmly established that the club stands behind the badge, not the individual, a critical message for a manager fighting to retain control during a turbulent run of eight defeats and two draws in the last fifteen matches.
The controversy gained further momentum from figures like former Liverpool player Wayne Rooney, who argued that Salah is “destroying his legacy” at Anfield and that Slot should “assert his authority and punish Salah”. The consensus among pundits has been overwhelmingly supportive of Slot’s decision to drop the player, seeing Salah’s actions as a deliberately calculated move timed to inflict maximum damage on an already struggling manager. The gravity of the situation was emphasized by reports from BBC Sport detailing the explicit confirmation from the Saudi Pro League’s chief executive that Salah remains a primary target.
The Justification Beyond Punishment
While the exclusion appeared punitive, Slot’s original decision to bench Salah was rooted in tactical desperation. The manager admitted the team had been “very vulnerable” defensively and needed stability. His shift to a new formation, often requiring the sacrifice of one of the high-flying attackers to provide an extra defensive midfielder, has paid dividends. Liverpool are now unbeaten in the four games since Slot first dropped Salah.
The uncomfortable truth for Salah fans is that the player’s form has been poor; he has managed only four goals in 13 top-flight appearances during the club’s slump to ninth place. Slot’s responsibility is to find the winning formula, and in the short term, that formula did not include the Egyptian. Furthermore, Salah’s claim that his relationship with Slot had “broken down” was a surprise to the manager, who claimed Salah had been “very respectful to my staff members, to his teammates, and he trained really hard” before the public comments.
The Dressing Room Verdict
The success of Slot’s disciplinary action hinges entirely on the reaction of the rest of the squad. If the manager loses the dressing room, the crisis is irreversible.
However, the dressing room appears unified behind the manager. Goalkeeper Alisson Becker, a teammate and friend of Salah, made it clear whose side he was on. Alisson said Salah is “smart enough to know” that his exclusion from the Champions League squad was a “consequence of what he did,” adding that the team’s reaction must be to “stay together, working hard, and overcoming a bad situation”.
Dominik Szoboszlai, who scored the late penalty winner in Milan, reinforced this unity, stating the controversy had not affected the team atmosphere. Midfielder Curtis Jones insisted the team “always are” behind the manager and that the performance against Inter proved they were focused on the collective. The gritty 1-0 victory against Inter Milan at the San Siro, achieved without their star forward, saw the fans chanting Slot’s name—a crucial public endorsement of his methods and proof that the team can win without its former talisman.
The club is now operating under the oldest maxim in football: No player is bigger than the club. The best way for the fans to stay fully updated on all the team’s fixtures, statistics, and breaking news is through the 96 app.
The January Window and The Legacy
The immediate future sees Salah miss the upcoming Brighton match before departing for the Africa Cup of Nations, offering a vital cooling-off period.
Beyond AFCON, the situation becomes an economic and legacy dilemma. Salah’s comments, including a hint that the Brighton game could be his last, have made a January exit, fuelled by persistent Saudi Arabian interest, highly probable. The club must now decide whether to integrate a potentially disgruntled star back into a side that has shown signs of tactical stability without him, or cash in before his transfer value depreciates further.
Slot’s firm stance, refusing to rule out a return but also suggesting the initiative must come from Salah with a potential apology, has cemented his position as a strong leader. He proved he is willing to enforce discipline, even at the cost of alienating a legend. This defining moment was Slot’s chance to show he is “not weak,” and he passed it with a decisive victory in Milan.
For Liverpool, where discipline and collective effort must be paramount during a rough season, Slot had no choice. The integrity and future of the team were more important than an individual’s status. Fans can access all match day analysis and tactical breakdowns on the 96 official website as this saga progresses. Slot’s immediate crisis may have been averted, but the true test of this decision—and of his managerial reign—will be judged by the final league table.
