The eruption from Mo Salah after the Leeds match wasn’t a frustrated murmur; it was a seismic shockwave that reverberated through Anfield and beyond. Accusations of being “thrown under the bus” and a stark admission of a fractured relationship with manager Arne Slot painted a picture of a superstar feeling betrayed and undervalued.
Wayne Rooney, a legend in his own right, didn’t hesitate to condemn the outburst. He saw not passion, but arrogance and disrespect. Rooney’s assessment was blunt: Salah’s public airing of grievances was a betrayal of teammates, manager, and the very fabric of the club he’d once elevated to iconic status.
The core of the issue, according to Salah, was a broken promise. He spoke of assurances given in the summer, now seemingly forgotten as he found himself repeatedly on the bench – a first in his illustrious career. The frustration was palpable, a sense of disbelief that his contributions were being dismissed so readily.
Rooney’s solution was uncompromising. He argued Slot needed to assert immediate authority, suspending Salah for the upcoming Brighton clash and allowing the situation to cool during the African Cup of Nations. Anything less, Rooney believed, would undermine the manager’s control and send a dangerous message to the entire squad.
Beyond the immediate fallout, a deeper concern emerged: a perceived decline in Salah’s form. Rooney pointed out that even legends aren’t immune to the passage of time, and that a period on the bench wasn’t a punishment, but a realistic assessment of current performance. The expectation, he insisted, should be to fight for a place, not demand it based on past glories.
Salah’s words cut deepest because of his history with Liverpool. He’s a record-breaker, a goal-scoring machine, and a beloved figure. But Rooney warned that this very legacy was now at risk, potentially tarnished by a public and acrimonious departure. He painted a stark picture of a player dismantling his own legend.
The Egyptian’s raw emotion, revealed in his post-match interview, was striking. He confessed to knowing he wouldn’t play against Leeds before even arriving at the stadium, a decision delivered with a chilling lack of explanation. He spoke of a growing disconnect, a feeling that someone within the club actively wanted him gone.
He contrasted his treatment with the support afforded to other top players, citing Harry Kane as an example. While Kane’s goal drought was met with encouragement, Salah felt he was immediately cast as the scapegoat. The perceived double standard fueled his anger and sense of injustice.
The possibility of a January exit loomed large. Salah openly questioned whether the Brighton game might be his last for Liverpool, admitting he didn’t accept the current situation. He even acknowledged the potential for a move to Saudi Arabia, though he stopped short of confirming any interest.
Ultimately, Salah’s outburst was a desperate plea for respect. He felt his contributions were being overlooked, his loyalty questioned, and his position unfairly undermined. It was a moment of profound vulnerability from a player who has always carried himself with quiet dignity, and a sign that the once-unbreakable bond between Salah and Liverpool may be irrevocably broken.
