Mohamed Salah expressed deep frustration after remaining on the bench during Liverpool's 3-3 draw at Leeds on December 6, 2025. The Egyptian forward accused the club of throwing him under the bus and revealed a lack of relationship with manager Arne Slot. Salah highlighted unfulfilled summer promises and his significant contributions to the team.
Liverpool's match against Leeds ended in a 3-3 draw on December 6, 2025, with Ao Tanaka scoring an injury-time equalizer for the hosts. Mohamed Salah, a two-time Premier League champion with the Reds, did not feature despite the pulsating encounter. Hugo Ekitike started up front, while Alexander Isak came on as a late substitute.
Post-match, Salah voiced his disbelief and disappointment. "I don’t know what to say. It’s funny but I couldn’t believe it. It is a really disappointing result for us as a team because we expect to win a game like that," he said. When pressed on what he couldn't believe, he added, "That I’m sitting on the bench for 90 minutes. The third time on the bench, I think for the first time in my career."
The 33-year-old, who signed a new two-year deal in the summer following a strong 2024/25 season under Slot, felt betrayed. "I’m very, very disappointed to be fair. I have done so much for this club down the years and especially last season. Now I’m sitting on the bench and I don’t know why. It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus," Salah stated. He mentioned receiving promises in the summer but being benched for three games.
Salah also addressed his relationship with Slot: "I said many times before that I had a good relationship with the manager, and all of a sudden we don’t have any relationship." He suggested internal forces might be against him at the club, despite his loyalty. Looking ahead, Liverpool face Brighton at Anfield next weekend before Salah joins Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations. "I will be in Anfield to say goodbye to the fans and go to the Africa Cup of Nations. I don’t know what is going to happen when I am there," he remarked.
Salah rejected notions of being a problem in the squad. "How I see it now is like you throw Mo under the bus because he is the problem in the team now. But I don’t think I am the problem," he insisted, emphasizing his earned position.