Mohamed Salah’s explosive interview has detonated into a full-blown crisis at Liverpool, with pundits branding his comments “disgraceful” and accusing the forward of unleashing “carnage” inside the club. What began as a personal grievance about being benched has rippled into a public showdown that threatens dressing-room unity and the manager’s authority.
The interview that ignited the fire
Salah said he felt “thrown under the bus” after being dropped for Liverpool’s recent struggles, a claim that cost him a place in the squad for Tuesday’s Champions League trip to Inter Milan.
The remarks landed like a thunderclap, prompting fierce condemnation from former Reds stars. Jamie Carragher called the intervention “a disgrace,” arguing the timing and choreography of Salah’s mixed-zone appearances — “four times in eight years,” he noted — are designed to “cause maximum damage” and bolster the player’s position.
Chris Sutton went further, accusing Salah of making the saga “all about him” and sparking a “civil war” at Anfield.
Managerial authority under threat
Manager Arne Slot said he was “surprised” by Salah’s claim that their relationship had broken down and admitted he had “no clue” whether the 33-year-old would play for Liverpool again.
Slot insisted his authority was intact and that the club would assess the situation after their next fixture, but the public nature of the dispute has already put pressure on the coaching staff and the squad.
Timing, tension and team turmoil
Critics point to the timing of Salah’s comments — coming on the back of a late equaliser that left Liverpool reeling at Leeds — as evidence of opportunism. Carragher suggested Salah “waited for a bad result” to strike, accusing him of trying to shift blame and even destabilise the manager. Former England captain Steph Houghton echoed the sentiment, calling the intervention “poor” and suggesting it felt premeditated. The fallout has dominated headlines and conversations, exactly the attention some believe Salah sought.
The bigger picture for Liverpool
This season has been a grind for Salah. After spearheading Liverpool’s title charge in 2024–25, his form has dipped — five goals in 19 games — and frustration has mounted.
Pundits argue that by going public, Salah has endangered team cohesion and put teammates under pressure, especially new signings like Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, who need support rather than headlines.
Wrexham defender Conor Coady warned that going to the press “puts your team-mates in jeopardy,” calling Salah’s move the “biggest wrongdoing” in his eyes. Sutton lamented that the player who once embodied team spirit now appears “extremely selfish,” asking whether the standoff will end with Slot or Salah leaving Anfield.
What happens next
Salah is due to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations next week, but his Anfield future is clouded. The club must now navigate a delicate path: restore harmony, protect the manager’s authority, and decide whether a superstar’s grievances can be reconciled without fracturing the squad. For a club already under pressure, the next chapter will test Liverpool’s leadership and the players’ willingness to put the team first.
