Gary Neville says he sympathizes with both Mohamed Salah and Liverpool amid their current row, comparing the situation to Cristiano Ronaldo’s acrimonious departure from Manchester United in 2022.
Head coach of Liverpool Arne Slott said he would speak to Salah on Friday to determine whether the striker will feature against Brighton on Saturday, his last chance to play for Liverpool this year before he heads to the AFCON with Egypt.
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Arne Slott has revealed he will speak to Mo Salah about his future at Liverpool after he was left out of the squad for the Champions League clash against Inter Milan.
Salah – who has been on the bench for three games in a row – was left out of Liverpool’s squad for their midweek Champions League game at Inter Milan after bombshell interview last Saturday cast doubt on his future at the club.
Salah expressed his frustration at being left out by Slott after the 3-3 draw at Leeds, where he was an unused substitute.
Three years ago, Ronaldo left United for a second time after slamming the club’s standards and criticizing then-boss Erik Ten Haag.
Neville understands why Liverpool fans will be upset by Salah’s behaviour, especially given their poor form, but says the player’s star status cannot be overlooked – and Salah has deserved more game time in recent weeks.
“I see it from both sides,” he said Ski Sports News.
“I wouldn’t see it from an ordinary player’s side. But when you have this level of players who are almost the best in the world, which I would put Mo Salah up there with, sometimes… you don’t have to accept what he did because Cristiano Ronaldo did it (at United) and I wasn’t too kind about it because I think those players have an expectation to bring everything along with them.”
“But that’s not unusual behavior for players of that level of quality and talent. They often have a different perspective on things.”
“It’s easy for me when I’m at Liverpool because I can sit back and relax a bit. I wouldn’t like it to be at my club Manchester United and I didn’t a few years ago when Cristiano did it and went and did a big interview.
“I thought it was wrong, I thought the timing was wrong and the way it was delivered was wrong, so I can see why Liverpool fans would be upset.
Cristiano Ronaldo left Manchester United in December 2022 after an interview in which he criticized Eric Ten Haag and the standards at the club.
“But I played (against Leeds), I thought (Salah) should have come on, I said that in the commentary.
“I can see why he was upset, but I can also see it from Liverpool’s perspective – they feel let down and that he gave them a lot of attention that was not needed at a time of challenge and difficulty.
“If it was a player who didn’t have the level of talent, experience or success that Mo Salah has, I think they would have been dropped pretty quickly,” Neville continued.
“But when you’re that exceptional and talented and have the presence of a big player, you don’t accept being benched and not being benched.”
I played with players who were exactly the same and left the club as soon as that was the case.
Slott: I have no reason not to want Salah to stay
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Arne Slott has revealed he will speak to Mo Salah about his future at Liverpool after he was left out of the squad for the Champions League clash against Inter Milan.
Slott was asked about his personal wishes for Salah’s future at Anfield, and the head coach also clarified the decision-making process behind Salah’s omission from Tuesday’s win in Milan, which he and the club decided together.
He said: “(Who decides) if he is in the team, yes or no? We decided as a club, I was part of that decision not to take Mo to Inter Milan.
“I’m always in conversation (with the Liverpool board) but when it comes to making decisions about the team or the line-up that’s always left to me.
“That doesn’t mean I don’t talk to Richard (Hughes). I talk to Richard about a lot of things. But to play the player is completely up to me.”
When specifically asked if he wanted Salah to stay, Slott replied: “I have no reason not to want him to stay. This club has won a lot of games with him.”
‘Slot takes the heat out of the drama he could do without’
SSN reporter Vinny O’Connor at the AKSA training center:
“‘I have no reason not to want him to stay here,'” was what Arne Slott said regarding his current position on the Mo Salah situation.
“And there is evidence to back that up with the actions that Slott is planning to take. Why else would he be meeting with Salah today after various discussions between the player’s representatives, the club and Slott himself.”
“Surely, if the manager had been prepared to sideline Salah, there would have been no need for further discussion.”
“Slot stopped by refusing to reveal whether he needed an apology from Salah or not.
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Former Liverpool defender Dietmar Hamann criticizes Mo Salah for going public with his displeasure.
“If Salah is not considered for selection for the second game in a row, it could mean they are giving him extra time to think.”
“However, it will raise the question of what exactly came out of today’s meeting and increase speculation that Salah could have played his last game for the club.”
“The main theme of the press conference seemed to be the manager trying to take the heat out of the drama he could do without. That heat will further cool down with Salah off to the AFCON once the Brighton game is out of the way.”
“Salah was in training today as normal and whatever happens this weekend, Liverpool will then be without him until at least January.
“With Slott saying he doesn’t want him to leave, what move will Salah make to ensure it doesn’t become a permanent arrangement?”
Mers: Liverpool owe the trophy to Salah
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Paul Merson is standing by Mohamed Salah after his explosive interview – in which he took aim at Arne Slott – saw him left out of Liverpool’s squad to beat Inter Milan.
Paul Merson has come to the defense of Mohamed Salah following his claims that Liverpool “threw him under the bus”, suggesting the club’s trophy cabinet would be much emptier without the Egyptian.
“I’m on Mo Salah’s side. I think he got too much stick.”
“Maybe he shouldn’t have done what he did, but he’s a human being. He’s a winner. He’s a legend. The numbers he’s put up on the wing – goals and assists – are off the charts. We’ll never see that again, in my opinion.
“All he did was say he wanted to play football. He has a hump because he doesn’t play. How could you be slaughtered for that?”
“There are other players in the team who could have dropped out and he’s probably thinking ‘we’re not very good and I’m not playing’. I just think it’s wrong.
“Liverpool wouldn’t have won anything if it wasn’t for Mo Salah. You take away his goals and assists and I don’t think there’s a trophy in that cabinet for a while.”