Mohamed Salah was brought on as a substitute during Liverpool's clash with Brighton(Image: PA)

Liverpool fans make Salah feelings clear as injury forces Slot into change

by · Liverpool Echo

Liverpool fans make Mohamed Salah feelings clear as injury forces Arne Slot into change

Mohamed Salah started on the bench for Liverpool's clash with Brighton on Saturday, but it didn't take long for Arne Slot to deploy him when Joe Gomez picked up a first-half injury

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Mohamed Salah was given a huge ovation as he walked onto the pitch at Anfield as a first-half substitute for Joe Gomez on Saturday afternoon. The Egyptian forward found himself on the bench for a fourth consecutive Premier League match against Brighton, following tensions with Arne Slot.

After being demoted to the sidelines for clashes with West Ham, Sunderland and Leeds United - failing to make it onto the pitch at all against the Hammers and the Peacocks - Salah unleashed a furious rant towards his manager last weekend, claiming that the two had no relationship.

He told the media after last Saturday's 3-3 draw at Elland Road: "I don't know what to say. It's kind of funny, I couldn't believe it. It's a disappointing result for us as a team. We conceded silly goals. I could not help my team-mates because I am on the bench. I could not believe I was sitting on the bench for 90 minutes.

"That's the third time. It's the first time in my career I think. I am very disappointed, I have done so much for this club over years, especially last season, It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus.

"That's how I feel it. Someone wants me to get all the blame. The club promised me a lot in summer. Now, I'm on bench, so I can say they haven't kept those promises.

"I used to have a good relationship [with Slot]. Now we don't have any relationship and I don't know why. [It] seems like someone does not want me in the club."

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While Salah found himself benched once more in the aftermath of his comments for Brighton's trip to Anfield, it didn't take long for the 33-year-old to make his way onto the pitch, marking his first appearance for the club since his outburst. Just 26 minutes into the match, Gomez had to come off with a potential problem, making way for the forward, as Dominik Szoboszlai slotted in as a right-back.

And Reds fans inside Liverpool's home ground were quick to voice their support for Salah despite him being unsettled with the club he has dedicated the last eight years of his professional career to, greeting him with an ovation as he crossed the sideline and pounced into action.

Speaking on Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday, Tim Sherwood said: "Mo Salah's coming on. I haven't seen the ovation yet, I haven't heard it because he hasn't come on yet.

Salah made his return after his falling out with Arne Slot early in the first half on Saturday(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

"Joe Gomez has to come off, it looks like Szoboszlai will go right-back and Mo will come and play outside. Big cheer, huge cheer for the little Egyptian genius. He's on."

Elsewhere in his interview last weekend, Salah also claimed that the Brighton game could represent his last outing as a Liverpool player, given he is set to join his nation for the Africa Cup of Nations until potentially January, when the mid-season transfer window opens up.

He explained: "I called my mum and dad and told them to come to the Brighton game. It doesn't matter if I play or not. I'm going to enjoy it. I am just going to be at Anfield and say goodbye to the fans before the Africa Cup of Nations, because I don't know what is going to happen when I am there.

Liverpool fans made their feelings clear with banners and a huge ovation(Image: Getty Images)

"It's not acceptable to me to be fair. If I was somewhere else, every club would protect its players. Now it's, 'Throw Mo under the bus because he is a problem in a team'. I don't think I am a problem.

"I am not fighting for my position every day because I have earned it. I am not bigger than the club. I am not bigger than anything. But I have earned it."

Salah had been left out of the squad for Liverpool's Champions League win over Inter Milan midweek but returned this weekend after a meeting with Slot. Saudi clubs are already circling and are potentially willing to pay as much as £100m for the star forward, though Liverpool remain hopeful of avoiding a January transfer, given he still has 18 months left on his contract.

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