Mohamed Salah has claimed he has been “thrown under the bus” as he revealed next week’s match against Brighton could be his last game at Anfield.
The 33-year-old was left on the bench as Arne Slot’s team drew 3-3 with Leeds United at Elland Road after a last minute equaliser from Japanese midfielder Ao Tanaka.
Salah told reporters: “I don’t know what to say, It’s funny but I couldn’t believe it. It is a really disappointing result for us as a team because we expect to win a game like that.”
Asked what he could not believe, he replied : “That I’m sitting on the bench for 90 minutes! The third time on the bench, I think for the first time in my career. I’m very, very disappointed to be fair. I have done so much for this club down the years and especially last season.”
The Egyptian international continued: “I don’t know why but it seems to me, how I see it, that someone doesn’t want me in the club.
“This club, I always support it. My kids will always support it. I love the club so much I will always do. I called my mum yesterday, you guys didn’t know if I would start or not, but I knew.
“Yesterday I said to them, come to the Brighton game. I don’t know if I am going to play or not but I am going to enjoy it.
“In my head, I’m going to enjoy that game because I don’t know what is going to happen now. I will be in Anfield to say goodbye to the fans and go the Africa Cup of Nations. I don’t know what is going to happen when I am there.”
Mohamed Salah was left on the bench for the match with Leeds United
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The striker, who will join up with Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations on December 15, said he does not understand why last season’s best player “has to defend himself in front of the media and fans.”
He said: “It is not acceptable for me…I don’t know why this is happening to me. I don’t get it. I think if this was somewhere else, every club would protect its player.
“How I see it now is like you throw Mo under the bus because he is the problem in the team now. But I don’t think I am the problem. I have done so much for this club.
“The respect, I want to get. I don’t have to go every day fighting for my position because I earned it. I am not bigger than anyone but I earned my position. It’s football. It is what it is.”
Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak were left on the bench
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Asked if this situation hurts, Salah said: “Absolutely. After what I have done for the club it really hurts.
“You can imagine, really. After going from home to the club and you don’t know if you are starting. I know the club too well, I have been here many years.
“Tomorrow (Jamie) Carragher is going to go for me again and again and that’s fine.”
Salah laughed when asked if he regretted signing a new deal, adding: “imagine how bad that I have to answer it, honestly” and insisted there is no issue with his team-mates.
Deep into stoppage time, however, Leeds snatched a dramatic equaliser to deny Liverpool victory once more | GETTY
But the Liverpool star has problems with people higher up in the club, including boss Slot.
“Yeah, there’s no relationship between us,” he added. “It was very good relationship and now all of a sudden there is no relationship.”
Salah sidestepped a question about interest from Saudi Arabia, saying: “I don’t want to answer this question, because the club is going to take me to a different direction,” he said, and does not know what will happen.
“I cannot say it is impossible (to solve), but from what I feel, I have done so much for the club, I love the fans and the club so much…But I don’t know what is going to happen next.” he said.
Mohamed Salah dodged a question about Saudi Arabia
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Slot said: “I think we’re improving. Individuals are improving, performances are improving, but it’s hard to take for these players as well. They’re putting so much effort in and fighting so hard and not to get the result so many times, one after the other, I think we can understand that does do something to an individual and to a team.”
Liverpool had lost seven of their previous 11 away league games before heading to Elland Road, where they had not lost in over 25 years, but while they left with a point, this will feel like another defeat and heaps further pressure on their head coach.
“It’s not about me, it’s what the players feel, what the fans feel, what everyone who loves this football club feels,” Slot said.
“I think we all feel the same at this moment. But I also hope that everyone sees that these players are fighting really, really hard.”
