Liverpool legend Michael Owen has publicly criticized Mohamed Salah following the Egyptian forward's explosive outburst against manager Arne Slot. The tension at Anfield has escalated just a week before the Africa Cup of Nations, casting a shadow over the club.
Salah's frustration boiled over after being benched for the third consecutive Premier League match, including the recent 3-3 draw against Leeds United, where Liverpool surrendered a two-goal lead. The forward, instrumental in Liverpool's previous Premier League title triumph, accused the club of "throwing him under the bus," citing a deteriorating relationship with Slot.
"I feel like the club is throwing me under the bus," Salah stated. "Suddenly, we don't have a relationship. I don't know why. It's not acceptable". The 32-year-old also hinted that the upcoming home match against Brighton might be his last appearance at Anfield before departing for AFCON, fueling speculation about his long-term future.
Owen, reacting to Salah's comments, urged the Egyptian star to exercise restraint during this sensitive period for the club. "Oh @mosalah I can imagine how you feel. You've carried this team for a long time and won everything there is to win," Owen wrote in a post on X. "But this is a team game and you simply can't publicly say what you've said". He further added, "You're going to AFCON in a week. Surely you bite your lip, enjoy representing your country and see how the land lies when you get back?".
Salah's outburst included expressing disbelief at being repeatedly benched, accusing the club of unfairly blaming him, and lamenting his fractured relationship with Slot. "I can't believe… I'm sitting on the bench for 90 minutes," Salah said. "The third time on the bench, I think for the first time in my career. I'm very, very disappointed. 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". He added, "It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That is how I am feeling. I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame".
Danny Murphy, another former Liverpool player, also questioned the timing and nature of Salah's comments, emphasizing the importance of keeping such frustrations within the club. "You can be angry, you can be frustrated, you can be emotional," Murphy stated. "He's done wonderful things for the football club. You have to keep it in the four walls of the club". Murphy suggested Salah should have addressed his concerns directly with the manager, CEO, or owners, rather than making them public.
Despite the criticism, some observers acknowledge Salah's contributions to Liverpool, recognizing his frustration after carrying the team for an extended period and achieving significant success. However, the consensus seems to be that airing grievances publicly is not the appropriate way to handle such situations and could be detrimental to team unity.
The timing of Salah's outburst, just before his expected departure for the Africa Cup of Nations, adds another layer of complexity to the situation. It remains to be seen how this public disagreement will impact Salah's future at Liverpool and his relationship with the club upon his return from international duty.
