Liverpool have omitted Mohamed Salah from their travelling squad for Tuesday’s Champions League showdown against Inter Milan, a decision that marks the most dramatic moment yet in the growing rift between the club and their all-time Premier League top scorer.
The club acted after Salah’s explosive post-match interview on Saturday, in which he claimed he had been “thrown under the bus” and admitted his relationship with head coach Arne Slot had broken down. According to club sources, the call to temporarily remove him from selection was made with Slot’s full agreement and is seen as the best way to defuse tension after a turbulent 48 hours. Crucially, Liverpool say there will be no formal disciplinary action.
Salah, 33, has started the last three matches on the bench, culminating in his unused-sub display during the chaotic 3-3 draw at Leeds, where Liverpool threw away a two-goal lead. That frustration seemingly spilled over in his comments, which drew sharp criticism from pundits including Wayne Rooney, who argued that Salah was “destroying his legacy” at the club.
The winger’s recent form has been modest by his usual standards: five goals across 18 Premier League and Champions League matches, with his last start coming in the 4-1 defeat to PSV Eindhoven. Yet his overall stature remains immense — 250 goals in 420 appearances and a key role in last season’s title win. He also renewed his contract in April, committing himself until 2026.
Slot’s side, already under scrutiny for inconsistent results, travelled to Milan on Monday with a 19-man squad and without their most iconic attacker. Slot will address the situation publicly alongside goalkeeper Alisson Becker before the game, but the club’s actions have already sent a clear message: control of the dressing room lies firmly with the new head coach.
Still, Liverpool have not closed the door on a reconciliation. Salah trained with the team on Monday morning, smiling and seemingly relaxed, a sign that his absence is more of a cooling-off measure than a permanent separation. Despite hints in Saturday’s interview that a January exit could be on the cards, BBC Sport reports that the Egyptian is not actively pushing to leave and that the club expect him to remain until heading to the Africa Cup of Nations — no earlier than 15 December.
Liverpool believe keeping him in training maintains fitness and keeps open the possibility of reintegration. That he wasn’t fined or temporarily banished from first-team sessions suggests the club want to manage the crisis rather than escalate it.
Salah’s relationship with Slot, however, is the key question. The Dutchman has repeatedly insisted that team structure and discipline come before individual status, and benching Salah in three consecutive matches reflects his determination to apply those principles. Whether Salah accepts a reduced or evolving role under Slot remains unclear.
The timing could not be worse for Liverpool, who face a crucial Champions League fixture amid concerns about defensive fragility and inconsistent attacking output. Without Salah, others will need to step up in Milan — a tall order given his longstanding status as the club’s primary match-winner.
There is also the emotional dimension. When Salah signed his new contract in April, he declared his hope to spend a decade at Anfield, calling it the place where he has enjoyed “the best years of my career.” Those words contrast sharply with the tone of Saturday’s interview, in which he spoke of uncertainty and the possibility of saying goodbye to supporters before leaving for the AFCON.
The coming days will determine whether this is a temporary crisis or the beginning of a permanent split. Much will depend on Slot’s message at Monday’s press conference and Salah’s behaviour in the coming weeks. But what is clear is that the club felt compelled to draw a line after a public outburst they believed endangered unity during a critical stretch of the season.
Salah may still have a future at Liverpool — but for the first time in his Anfield career, that future looks negotiable.
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