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Arne Slot’s struggles as Liverpool manager worsened significantly on Saturday after Mohamed Salah criticised both the coach and the club’s hierarchy following a disheartening defeat against Leeds.
The Premier League champions are enduring a worrying slide, having managed just four wins from their last 15 matches in all competitions, and now face the added complication of a very public fallout with one of the greatest players in their history.
Salah stands third on the club’s all-time goalscoring list with 250 goals, behind only Ian Rush and Roger Hunt, and was instrumental in two league title successes – most notably last season, when he dominated the individual awards as Slot captured the title in his first campaign in charge.
However, the relationship between player and manager now appears shattered after Slot left the Egyptian forward out of his starting line-up in three successive matches.
The 33-year-old responded with an extraordinary post-match outburst that hinted his Anfield career may be drawing to a close.
Salah claimed he had been made a scapegoat, alleging he had been unfairly targeted from within the club. He said he felt abandoned by Liverpool, insisting someone wanted him to shoulder the blame for the team’s struggles.
Although Salah’s form has dipped this season, with just five goals in 19 games and growing criticism of his defensive contribution, Slot had continued to back him until his recent omission.
Matters have now been complicated further by Salah’s impending departure for the Africa Cup of Nations, after matches against Inter Milan and Brighton.
The forward suggested his final appearance before leaving for international duty against Brighton could also be his last game at Anfield altogether, admitting he had no idea what awaited him once he returned from the tournament.
Slot, still basking in the glory of last season’s title only months ago, suddenly finds himself fighting to maintain support among Liverpool’s fanbase as results continue to deteriorate.
The public rift with a revered club figure is the last problem he needed as confidence in his leadership begins to erode.
Failure to secure victory after leading both 2–0 and 3–2 against Leeds leaves Liverpool with only two league wins from their last 10 outings, plunging them to eighth in the table and extinguishing realistic hopes of retaining their crown before Christmas.
While Slot has shown boldness by sidelining Salah, critics have questioned his refusal to drop centre-back Ibrahima Konaté, whose costly error at Elland Road handed Leeds a route back into the contest.
With Liverpool two goals ahead, Konaté lunged unnecessarily at Willy Gnonto near the byline and conceded a penalty, instantly swinging the momentum. Within moments, Leeds found an equaliser through Anton Stach in front of a raucous home support.
Former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp said Konaté’s challenge was astonishingly poor, labelling the decision indefensible.
Even after Dominik Szoboszlai restored Liverpool’s lead, their familiar fragility returned in stoppage time when Ao Tanaka fired in from a corner to snatch a draw for the hosts.
Slot admitted Liverpool’s problems are becoming repetitive, pointing again to late concessions and vulnerability from dead-ball situations.
However, his inability to halt the decline has raised serious questions over his long-term future, just as doubts now hang over Salah’s loyalty beyond 2026.
