Following a strong statement from Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah, club legend Jamie Carragher has publicly voiced his strong disapproval. The pundit drew a telling comparison to Cristiano Ronaldo.
After the disappointing 2-4 loss to Aston Villa, Salah escalated the already tense situation at the Reds with his call to return to the ‘heavy metal football’ of yesteryear. Carragher did not hold back on Sky Sports, directly confronting the attacker.
‘I’m not surprised,’ the former defender stated coolly. For Carragher, the incident was a predictable drama that strongly reminded him of the undignified departure of another global star: ‘I told everyone: something will happen before the end of the season. He will drop another bomb, a bit like Ronaldo when he left Manchester United. I thought it might happen after the season when he had already moved on, but no.’
Carragher elaborated: ‘I called him selfish in an interview, and I still believe that’s true. Liverpool faces a really important week. They are not yet definitively qualified for the Champions League, and it should be about Liverpool FC, not FC Salah.’
Salah’s Clear Words Towards Slot
The trigger was Salah’s post, which seemed to be a dismantling of manager Arne Slot and his methods. The Egyptian wrote: ‘I’ve seen this club go from doubters to believers and from believers to champions. It took hard work, and I always did my best to help the club achieve this goal. Nothing makes me prouder than that. It was very painful that we lost again, and it’s not what our fans deserve. I wish Liverpool to become the brave attacking team that opponents fear again and a team that wins titles.’
These words offered deep insight. Midfield icon Steven Gerrard also chimed in, emphasizing that this cryptic message was final proof of a completely divided dressing room and the loss of their own identity under Slot’s leadership.
«He Pulled the Pin on a Grenade»
TV pundit Gary Neville sided with Carragher and sharply condemned the timing of the Egyptian’s statement. Such public humiliation of one’s own coach would be unacceptable at any top club in the world.
‘He pulled the pin on a grenade in the middle of the room and is just walking out now,’ Neville analyzed. ‘Mo is not happy. This is not a nice situation. If he were a Manchester United player, I would be furious.’
At the same time, Neville understands the power dynamics in modern football: ‘But what you can never achieve with a player of this caliber, with this stature and personality, is silence them. If they have something to say, they will say it. And they will say it exactly when you don’t want to hear it. That was a telling remark. Arne Slot will not welcome this at all.’
Will Slot Start Salah Against Brentford?
For Slot, the situation before the Brentford game is a daunting task. If he punishes Salah and benches him, he risks losing valuable sporting quality in the fight for the Champions League.
Carragher therefore urges maximum pragmatism from the coach: ‘I don’t think a manager should ever cut off his nose to spite his face. If Mo Salah’s involvement on the weekend gives Liverpool the best chance of winning, he has to play him.’
Slot’s weakened position at the club does not make things any easier. ‘I criticized Mo Salah for being selfish. Arne Slot cannot be selfish. He has to think about the club, about what is best for the club,’ Carragher said. ‘If Liverpool needs a good result against Brentford, he has to play him if he believes he is in his best team. Arne Slot is not in a particularly strong position at Liverpool right now, and that’s why Salah made these statements. He doesn’t have the support of the fans right now. That’s why Salah did it. He has put him in a really uncomfortable position.’