Salah's life and death turn at Liverpool

Mohamed Salah is a man of few words. During his seven years at Liverpool, he rarely let his emotions get the better of him in front of the cameras. But last weekend at Elland Road, all those rules were torn apart.

Salah's reasoning

The 250-goal Liverpool star walked straight through the mixed zone, looked straight at reporters and said he had been “thrown under the bus”, that “someone didn’t want me here”, and that his relationship with manager Arne Slot “broke down”.

For a club that had just dropped to ninth place and was looking for a way out of a disappointing run of results, the announcement was like pouring gasoline on a smoldering fire. But this was more than just a player’s reaction to not being on the pitch. This was a power struggle between a legend and a manager trying to rebuild the team his way.

Salah has been on the bench a lot lately.

Salah has reason to be angry. Three consecutive games on the bench is unprecedented in his Liverpool career.

Salah still believes he has the quality to turn any game around. However, Arne Slot, through drastic tactical changes, seems to want the team to play in a new structure where Salah's role is no longer an absolute priority.

Since the start of the season, Liverpool have been playing more controlled football, pressing more systematically and attacking in set patterns. For Salah, those adjustments have left him feeling restricted, less free and less influential.

What has sparked the conflict is the feeling that Salah is being blamed for the team’s poor form. Commentators and former players have repeatedly argued that Salah is Liverpool’s “problem”, and Slot is suspected of letting himself be influenced by such assessments. When in reality, Liverpool are no better off without Salah.

At 33, Salah knows he has little time left to choose the most important stages. He signed a new contract in April and has said he wants to write the final chapter of his career at Anfield. But his words on Saturday night show another truth: Salah does not believe he has a future at Liverpool if Slot remains in charge.

As for Slot, he faces an unavoidable problem. The Dutch coach's handling of similar Salah-like situations at Feyenoord has been praised, but the Premier League is a different environment.

Salah is not just a key player, he is a symbol of the Klopp era, the man who carried Liverpool through many difficult periods and an important figure in the dressing room. The fact that he benched Salah repeatedly, then let the conflict explode in public, shows that the rift had been quietly building for many weeks.

But this incident opens up an opportunity. Slot can assert his power by decisively eliminating any disturbing factors, especially when Salah is about to leave for CAN.

He could also choose to reconcile, bringing Salah back into the team in a more controlled way. Either way, Slot would still have the initiative, because Salah himself pushed himself into open confrontation.

Liverpool, according to sources, are “open” about Salah’s future.

What future for Salah?

Liverpool, according to sources, are “open” about Salah’s future. This is not surprising when Saudi clubs once again express interest.

Simone Inzaghi’s Al-Hilal are said to be monitoring the situation, although there has been no official contact. The January market could become a sticking point for both sides if the sense of disintegration continues to grow.

However, Salah's affection for Liverpool cannot be underestimated. Sources confirm that he still loves the club, and is still disappointed when the team underperforms. Salah does not want to leave in chaos, but he cannot accept a new role that will make him fade into obscurity.

The coming week will be a test for everyone. The open training session on December 8 will provide the first answers: Will Salah be available? Will Slot be available for talks? And most importantly, will Salah travel to Milan for the Champions League? A big game at the San Siro that Liverpool desperately need to win.

If Salah is absent, or benched again, the storm will surely rise. If he plays, it will be a test of his ability to coexist with Slot.

This weekend, Liverpool face Brighton at Anfield, the last game before Salah joins up with Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations. The reaction of the crowd will be an important indicator of the future of both sides.

And then things could move very quickly. A January departure, or a temporary compromise? An escape for Salah to feel at the heart of the project again, or Slot’s determination to rebuild Liverpool according to his own philosophy?

The story is no longer about tactics or personnel selection. This is the turning point of an icon and a new dynasty. And at this point, the question is not whether the relationship is strained or not, but whether between Salah and Liverpool, is there a way back?

Source: https://znews.vn/khuc-re-sinh-tu-cua-salah-tai-liverpool-post1609291.html