Jamie Carragher says he isn’t surprised that Mohamed Salah issued one final shot at Liverpool boss Arne Slot, and labelled the Egyptian’s actions as “selfish”.
Salah issued a statement on social media following Liverpool’s 4-2 defeat to Aston Villa on Friday where he appeared to criticise Slot’s style of play by calling for a return of the “heavy metal football” the Reds were famous for playing under Jurgen Klopp.
The 33-year-old, who will leave Anfield in the summer, added that everyone who joins the club should accept that style and that adjusting to it “cannot be negotiable”.
Salah expressed frustration with his head coach earlier this season, claiming to have been “thrown under the bus” by Slot ahead of his departure for the Africa Cup of Nations.
“I’m not surprised,” Carragher said on Salah’s latest comments.
“I told everybody, ‘something else will come before the end of the season. He’ll drop another bomb a little bit like Ronaldo did on the way out of Manchester United’. I thought it may come after the end of the season when he’d moved on, but no.
“Less than two years ago, I called him selfish for doing an interview and I think that rings true again. Liverpool have a really important week. They are still not fully qualified for the Champions League and it should be about Liverpool FC, not Salah FC.
“It’s vital that Liverpool make the Champions League positions, but I’m not surprised and it’s not a good look at all.”
‘Slot can’t be as selfish as Salah in CL race’
Salah’s comments dropped just days before what is meant to be his Anfield swansong when Liverpool host Brentford on the final day of the Premier League season, live on Sky Sports.
The Reds could go into the game needing a win to guarantee a place in next season’s Champions League should Bournemouth manage to pick up a result against Manchester City on Tuesday night.
Wayne Rooney has said that he would drop Salah for the game if he was his manager, but Carragher believes that Slot has to be the bigger person and play the Egyptian if he’s in his strongest XI, especially if a place in Europe’s elite competition next season is still on the line.
Arne Slot believes Liverpool will never be able to replace Mo Salah with just one player, and says the Egyptian’s departure will be the biggest change for the club in the new season. Credit: Men in Blazers Media Network
“I don’t believe any manager should ever cut off his nose to spite his face,” Carragher added. “If playing Mo Salah at the weekend gives Liverpool the best chance of winning the game, you have to pick him.
“I’ve criticised Mo Salah about being selfish. Arne Slot can’t be selfish, he has to think of the club, what’s best for the club. If Liverpool need a result against Brentford he has to play him if he thinks he’s in his best team.
“If Liverpool are already qualified for the Champions League, that might be different. Arne Slot might think, ‘I’m going to play the players or start the players who are going to be here next season and we bring Mo Salah on from the bench.’
“Arne Slot is not in a position of great strength at Liverpool at the moment, and that’s why Salah made his comments. He hasn’t got the backing of the crowd right now, and that’s why Salah’s done it. He’s put him in a really awkward position where he knows he’s almost got to pick him and give him that send-off because if he doesn’t give him the send-off, I think the fans will turn even more.”
Neville: I’d be fuming if Salah was a United player
Sky Sports Gary Neville says that Mohamed Salah’s latest criticism of Liverpool’s season will not be helpful to the club or indeed head coach Arne Slot
Gary Neville said he would be “fuming” at Salah’s comments about Liverpool’s season if the Egyptian was a Man Utd player.
“He’s pulled the pin out of a grenade right in the middle of the room. And he’s walking out of the room,” he said. “Mo’s not happy over there.
“It’s not great. If he was a Manchester United player, I’d be fuming. But what you can never do with this kind of player, with this kind of stature and personality, is keep them quiet. If they’ve got something to say, they’re going to say it. And they’re going to say it at the point where you don’t want to hear it.
“That was a telling comment. Arne Slot will not welcome it whatsoever. But he will just want to get to the end of the season, get out of there, get everyone out of there that’s not going to be there next season, and try and build.”
Salah’s statement in full
In a scathing assessment of Liverpool’s form this season, Salah said in a statement on social media: “I have witnessed this club go from doubters to believers, and from believers to champions.
“It took hard work and I always did everything I could to help the club get there. Nothing makes me prouder than that.
Liverpool forward Mo Salah watches on as players and managers dedicate video messages in homage to his legendary craft
“Us crumbling to yet another defeat this season was very painful and not what our fans deserve. I want to see Liverpool go back to being the heavy metal attacking team that opponents fear and back to being a team that wins trophies. That is the football I know how to play and that is the identity that needs to be recovered and kept for good.
“It cannot be negotiable and everyone that joins this club should adapt to it. Winning some games here and there is not what Liverpool should be about. All teams win games.
“Liverpool will always be a club that means a great deal to me and to my family. I want to see it succeed for long after I have moved on. As I’ve always said, qualifying to next season’s Champions League is the bare minimum and I will do everything I can to make that happen.”
