Liverpool drop Mohamed Salah for Champions League tie after his public criticism of manager Arne Slot, sparking transfer speculation.
LONDON: Mohamed Salah has been dropped from Liverpool’s squad for their Champions League tie at Inter Milan.
The exclusion follows the Egyptian star’s extraordinary public criticism of his treatment by manager Arne Slot.
Salah was omitted from the squad announced on Monday despite training with the first team earlier in the day.
On Saturday, Salah said he felt “thrown under the bus” by Liverpool and that he no longer had a relationship with Slot.
This came after he was left on the bench for a third consecutive game in a 3-3 draw against Leeds.
“I don’t know why but it seems to me, how I see it, that someone doesn’t want me in the club,” Salah told reporters.
“It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That is how I am feeling.”
It is reported that Salah’s removal was taken with Slot’s full support, though no formal disciplinary action has been taken.
His exile is seen as in the best interests of all parties given the nature and timing of his comments.
The outburst has sparked speculation Liverpool will consider selling him in the January transfer window.
The forward has been repeatedly linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League over the last two years.
Salah is Liverpool’s third-highest goalscorer of all time with 250 goals in 420 appearances.
He signed a new contract in April and is the club’s highest-paid player in history.
However, he has scored just four goals in 13 Premier League appearances this season.
He was last seen starting in a 4-1 defeat by PSV Eindhoven on November 26.
Salah’s absence adds to Slot’s problems as Cody Gakpo, Federico Chiesa and Wataru Endo are also unfit.
As a result, Slot has taken only a 19-man squad to Milan for Tuesday’s match. – AFP
