09.12.2025 14:56
The reigning champion of the English Premier League, Liverpool, has been plunged into a major crisis following the benching of Egyptian star Mohamed Salah. The tension with head coach Arne Slot and the team's poor performance have increased speculation about Salah's future.
The reigning champion of the English Premier League, Liverpool, has been shaken by a series of poor results this season, and the situation escalated into a new crisis following the harsh comments of Egyptian star Mohamed Salah, who was benched.
THE PRESSURE IS MOUNTING AT LIVERPOOL
After spending £450 million during the summer transfer window, Liverpool was expected to strengthen further with expensive signings like Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike, and Jeremie Frimpong, but the team has entered a turbulence.
Having won only once in the last 5 league matches, with 2 draws totaling 5 points, Liverpool suffered a 4-1 defeat at home to PSV Eindhoven in their last Champions League match. Currently sitting in 10th place in the Premier League, Liverpool is in 13th place in the Champions League.
The departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has played a significant role in the successes of recent years, has negatively impacted Mohamed Salah's performance on the right wing. Dutch coach Arne Slot's experimentation with 6 different players in the right-back position has increased the percentage of attacks on Liverpool's goal from the right flank, which has become an open target for opponents, from 33% to 50%.
HE LASTED 3 MATCHES ON THE BENCH
Slot's decision to bench Salah, who has started in the first 11 for 50 consecutive matches since the summer of 2024, ignited the crisis after the PSV Eindhoven match. The 33-year-old player, who was benched in league matches against West Ham, Sunderland, and Leeds United, issued a harsh ultimatum to Slot after the 3-3 draw against Leeds United. Salah stated that he felt like the club had thrown him under the bus and hinted at saying goodbye to Anfield Road with the match against Brighton Hove Albion on December 13.
250 GOALS IN 420 MATCHES
Signed from Roma for £34 million in the summer of 2017, Salah has scored 250 goals in 420 matches for Liverpool, providing 113 assists as well.
Salah, who celebrated cup victories in the Premier League in the 2019-2020 and 2024-2025 seasons, as well as in the UEFA Champions League in the 2018-2019 season, has also won the FA Cup (2022) and League Cup (2022, 2024) titles, and has been the top scorer for 4 seasons (2017-18, 2018-19, 2021-22, 2024-25).
SLOT: "I'M POLITE, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN I'M WEAK"
After Salah's comments, coach Slot did not take him to the away match against Inter, expressing surprise at the star player's remarks, stating, "If a player is giving orders on so many issues, then my and the club's response is necessary. As you can see, we responded; he is not here. I am generally calm and polite, but that does not mean I am weak."
The experienced coach commented on Salah's implication of leaving the team, saying, "There is always a possibility for a player to return. I don't know if he has played his last match for Liverpool; I cannot answer that question right now."
SALAH HAD PREVIOUS TENSIONS WITH KLOPP
Salah had a dispute with his former coach Jurgen Klopp when he came on as a substitute in the 79th minute during the away match against West Ham United in 2024. Salah, who was separated by teammates Darwin Nunez and Joe Gomez, made a statement while passing through the media area after the match, saying, "If I speak, there will be a fire."
Klopp, on the other hand, stated that they discussed the matter in the locker room and closed the topic.
CARRAGHER AND ROONEY RESPOND TO SALAH
Former Liverpool player Jamie Carragher claimed that Salah did something shameful, stating, "This was something planned to create maximum damage between him and the coach and to strengthen his own position. He expected a bad result and chose that moment to attack the coach. Perhaps he was trying to get him fired."
Former Manchester United star Wayne Rooney stated that Slot should not have included Salah in the team, saying, "Salah needs to resolve his disagreements with Slot or leave Liverpool. In any case, this issue needs to be resolved quickly."
ON THE RADAR OF SAUDI TEAMS
Salah, who hinted at saying goodbye to Anfield Road with the match against Brighton Hove Albion on December 13, is reportedly being pursued by teams including Al Hilal, coached by Simone Inzaghi. Salah will compete with the Egyptian National Team in the Africa Cup of Nations, starting on December 21, before the winter transfer window.