Jamie Carragher says he is not surprised by Mohamed Salah’s final attack on Liverpool manager Arne Slott and labeled his actions “selfish”.
Salah issued a statement on social media after Liverpool’s 4-2 loss to Aston Villa on Friday, criticizing Slot’s style of play and calling for a return to the “heavy metal football” Liverpool famously played for under Jurgen Klopp.
The 33-year-old, who is set to leave Anfield in the summer, added that anyone who joins the club must embrace that style and that adapting to it is “non-negotiable”.
Salah complained to his manager earlier this season, claiming he had been “thrown under the bus” by Slot ahead of his appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations.
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The Sunday Supplement takes a closer look at Mohamed Salah’s criticism of Liverpool this season and whether Arne Slott should respond to those comments.
Carragher said he was “not surprised” by Salah’s latest comments.
“I told everyone, ‘Something else will come before the season is over.’ He will drop another bomb like Ronaldo did when he left Manchester United.’ I thought it would come after the season he transferred, but that wasn’t the case.
“I called him selfish in an interview two years ago and I think I was right again. Liverpool are having a really important week. They are not good enough to qualify for the Champions League yet and it should be about Liverpool FC and not Salah FC.
“It’s very important for Liverpool to qualify for the Champions League but I’m not surprised and I’m not in good shape at all.”
‘In the CL race, Slot can’t be as selfish as Salah’
Salah’s comments were removed live on Sky Sports just days before the White House at Anfield when Liverpool play Brentford on the final day of the Premier League season.
If Bournemouth get a result against Manchester City on Tuesday night, the Reds could go into the game needing a win to guarantee a place in next season’s Champions League.
Wayne Rooney has said he would not play if Salah were his manager, but Carragher believes Slot should be the bigger man if he is in his strongest XI and should play the Egyptian, especially if his place in Europe’s elite competition next season is still at stake.
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Arne Slot believes Liverpool will never be able to replace Mo Salah with just one player, saying the Egyptian’s departure would be the biggest change for the club in the new season. Source: Men of Blazers Media Network
Carragher added: “I don’t think any manager should cut off his nose to spite his face.” “If you play Mo Salah at the weekend and Liverpool have the best chance of winning, then you have to pick him.
“I accused Mo Salah of being selfish. Arne Slott can’t be selfish. He has to think about the club and what’s best for the club. If Liverpool need a result against Brentford and they think they are in the best team, they should play him.
“It could be different if Liverpool had already qualified for the Champions League. Arne Slot might be thinking, ‘I’ll play the players who will be here next season or start them and bring Mo Salah off the bench.’
“Arne Slott is not in a position of great strength at Liverpool at the moment, so that’s why Salah made those comments. He doesn’t have the support of the crowd right now, so Salah did that. He almost pulled him out and put him in a really awkward position knowing he had to be sent off. If he doesn’t get sent off, I think the fans will turn even more on him.”
Neville: ‘I would be angry if Salah were a Manchester United player’
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Sky Sports Gary Neville says Mohamed Salah’s recent criticism of Liverpool’s season will not help the club or manager Arne Slot.
Gary Neville has said he would be “furious” at Salah’s comments about Liverpool’s season if the Egyptian was a Manchester United player.
“He pulls the pin off a grenade in the middle of the room, and he’s walking out of the room,” he said. “Mo is not satisfied with that.
“It’s not good. If he was a Manchester United player, I would be angry. But the thing you can’t do with a player of this size and character is to keep him quiet. If he has something to say, he will do it. And he will say it at a point where he doesn’t want to be heard.”
“That was a compelling opinion. Arne Slot wouldn’t welcome it at all, but he just wants to get out until the end of the season. Get all the people who won’t be there next season out of there and try and build.”
Salah’s full statement
Salah gave a scathing review of Liverpool’s form this season, saying in a statement posted on social media: “I have seen this club go from doubters to believers, believers to champions.”
“It took hard work and I have always done my best to help the club get there. I couldn’t be prouder than that.
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Liverpool forward Mo Salah watches players and managers send video messages paying tribute to his legendary skills.
“It was very painful and not what our fans deserved when we suffered another defeat this season. I want to see Liverpool return to being the heavy metal attacking team that opponents fear and winning trophies. That’s football I can play and that’s an identity that needs to be restored and maintained forever.”
“It’s non-negotiable and anyone who joins this club has to adapt to that. Winning a few games here and there is not Liverpool’s goal. Every team wins games.”
“Liverpool will always be a club that means a lot to me and my family. I want to see Liverpool succeed long after I move. As I have always said, qualifying for the Champions League next season is the bare minimum and I will do everything I can to make that happen.”
