Liverpool at a Crossroads: Salah Speaks Out, Slot Applies Pressure, and Wirtz Emerges as the New Focal Point

After the clash with Leeds United, Mohamed Salah—who had been left on the bench for three consecutive matches—publicly fired back at both the club and head coach Arne Slot, declaring, “Someone is trying to push all the blame onto me.” Yet from another perspective, this storm may well be part of Slot’s deliberate strategy to accelerate Liverpool’s full-scale rebuilding process.

In an explosive post-match interview, Salah first aimed his frustration squarely at the club. “It feels like I’ve been abandoned,” he said. “It’s very clear to me that someone wants to push all the responsibility onto my shoulders.”

He continued, “I was given many promises in the summer, but being benched three games in a row shows those promises were not kept. It feels like the club is putting Salah forward as the scapegoat, as if I am the problem. But I don’t believe I am the problem.”

Salah then turned his criticism toward Slot. “I’ve always said that my relationship with the head coach was good, but suddenly that relationship disappeared. I don’t know why, but from my point of view, it seems like someone doesn’t want me to stay here.”

Following Salah’s public outburst, Liverpool are set to face Brighton on December 13, their final Premier League match before the Africa Cup of Nations. Should Salah depart during the winter transfer window, that match could mark the final chapter of his Liverpool career.

Is Salah Really Leaving in January?

Salah himself admitted during an interview that he “doesn’t know what will happen” during the Africa Cup period—a comment widely interpreted as a potential farewell signal.

Renowned journalist Sorkel Hel offered a grounded analysis, suggesting that a January exit remains highly unlikely. “Salah is still a Liverpool player and has just signed a two-year extension. His weekly wage is around £400,000. At 33 years old, what realistic options does he have? Who can afford both the massive transfer fee and his enormous salary?”

He added, “If he says he’s unhappy, any club that wants him will expect a discounted deal and ask him to take a pay cut. Would Salah accept that?”

Saudi Arabia naturally remains in the conversation. “Yes, the Saudi Pro League wants him and has made him a top priority,” Sorkel Hel explained. “They want Salah in their league. But this would be an extremely complex deal—one that cannot be completed in just a few days, especially with the Africa Cup coming up. I firmly believe his future lies in Saudi Arabia at some point, but not in the immediate future.”

Why Has Slot Fallen Out with Salah?

Despite Salah being benched for three straight games, Liverpool managed only one win and two draws. The dramatic stoppage-time equalizer conceded against Leeds pushed the club deeper into crisis, and Salah’s public criticism only worsened the situation.

Leaving Salah unused for the entire match against Leeds was a clear statement of intent from Slot. With no apparent alternatives left, Salah delivered his most shocking interview yet—one that has plunged his future into complete uncertainty.

Journalist Boswell observed, “The way the breakdown between Salah and Slot has been exposed shows that Liverpool are standing at a crossroads. How can these two move forward together? In football, you never truly know what will happen, but it’s clear that enormous changes are unfolding at Anfield.”

Veteran commentator Zhan Jun believes Slot is deliberately easing Salah toward the exit. “The first signal is Salah’s noticeable drop in form. He’s the highest-paid player in the squad and is about to leave for the Africa Cup, yet he isn’t being given minutes. That suggests the club may be hoping he finds a new home in January.”

The data appears to support this narrative. Salah’s average shots per game have dropped sharply from 1.63 to just 0.8. His chance creation, touches in the opposition box, and successful dribbles have also declined—from 2.37 to 2.25, from 10.5 to 7.32, and from 3.36 to 3.22 respectively.

When Will Liverpool Get Back on Track?

Had Liverpool managed to defeat Sunderland and Leeds, Slot’s decision to bench Salah might have been far easier for supporters to accept. But back-to-back draws have made one thing clear: Salah is not the team’s only problem.

Club legend Gary Neville believes Liverpool’s challenges run far deeper and that Slot will need time to restore order. He also hinted that the club may need to move on from Salah and build around Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak as the new pillars of a reimagined squad.

“Problems are everywhere,” Neville said. “The integration of the new squad, Salah, Isak, center-backs, full-backs—everything needs fixing. There are many issues.”

“You can see Slot is trying to solve them, but it will take time—possibly even an entire transfer window—to properly reshape the squad.”

“When he first arrived, the team was relatively settled. Then he brought in five or six new players and tried to mold them into a squad worthy of both the passion and the transfer fees paid. Liverpool do have serious problems—but this is not the time to walk away. This is the time to work harder, to think clearly about how to strengthen the team in January.”

Neville concluded by stressing the core of the rebuild: “They must fix the defense, rebalance the midfield, and most importantly, find the best way to unlock the full potential of Wirtz and Isak.”

Zhan Jun echoed this view, pointing out that Salah’s continued absence also sends another powerful message: “Liverpool’s attack is clearly shifting toward Wirtz as the new centerpiece, focusing on ground-based, technical build-up play. The future is being redrawn—right now.”