Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has been left out of the squad for Tuesday's Champions League match against Inter Milan following his public criticism of the club and manager Arne Slot. Salah, who accused the club of throwing him under the bus after being benched, did not travel with the team to Italy. Slot indicated there remains a possibility for reconciliation despite the tension.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot confirmed that Mohamed Salah will miss the Champions League fixture against Inter Milan on December 9, 2025, after the Egyptian forward's explosive comments following a 3-3 draw at Leeds United. Salah, benched for the third consecutive match, told reporters: "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." He added that his relationship with Slot had broken down, stating, "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."
Slot, speaking ahead of the trip to Milan, revealed limited communication with Salah, limited to informing him of his exclusion. "We let him know that he’s not traveling with us. So that was the only communication that’s been there from us to him," Slot said. He expressed no undermining of his authority and left the door open for a return, noting, "I’m a firm believer that there’s always a possibility to return for a player. I have no clue [if he will play again], I cannot answer that question at this period in time."
The 33-year-old Salah, who has scored 250 goals in 420 appearances for Liverpool since joining from Roma in 2017, has managed five goals in 19 games this season. Liverpool sit 13th in the Champions League league phase with three wins and two losses, including a recent 1-4 defeat to PSV. Inter, fourth in the table and three points ahead, host the Reds at San Siro.
Reactions have been sharp. Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher called Salah's outburst "a disgrace," suggesting it was choreographed for maximum impact. Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney claimed Salah is "destroying his legacy" and urged Slot to assert authority by benching him further. Inter manager Cristian Chivu downplayed Salah's absence, saying, "Liverpool are not just one individual. There are players who can replace him."
Salah, who signed a two-year extension in April and is due for the Africa Cup of Nations starting December 21, trained with teammates on Monday but remains sidelined amid the club's ninth-place standing in the Premier League, 10 points behind leaders Arsenal.