Cristiano Ronaldo comparison emerges as Salah fuels Liverpool crisis

Robin Bairner

13 Dec 2025 10:05 GMT
4 min read

Mohamed Salah, Liverpool, Cristiano Ronaldo — © IMAGO

Mohamed Salah would have been kicked out of Liverpool if he was an inferior player, according to Gary Neville, who says that the situation is reminiscent of that of Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United several years ago.

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Salah has been left furious after being left out of three successive Premier League starting XIs by Liverpool manager Arne Slot. He claimed that the club has broken promises to him and that instead they have ‘thrown him under a bus’ to explain their poor recent form.

With transfer rumours raging around the Egypt international star, Neville says the Reds face a similar issue as Man Utd when Ronaldo rebelled against manager Erik ten Hag in an interview with Piers Morgan after being dropped by the Dutchman.

Compared

Mohamed Salah

F, M (R)

Liverpool

Mohamed Salah

F, M (R)

Liverpool

VS

Cristiano Ronaldo

F (C)

Al-Nassr

Cristiano Ronaldo

F (C)

Al-Nassr

€46.2M	ETV	€10.4M
€41.6M - €50.9M	ETV Range	€9.4M - €11.5M
33 years old (15 Jun, 1992)	Age	40 years old (05 Feb, 1985)
Egypt	Nationality	Portugal

Ronaldo’s decision to leave United ultimately saw him released by mutual consent to join Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.

Neville says Liverpool now face a similarly difficult decision, made all the trickier by Salah’s legendary Anfield status.

What did Gary Neville say about Mo Salah and Liverpool?

Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “I wouldn't see it from an ordinary player's side. But when you have this level of player that's almost the best in the world, which I'd put Mo Salah up there with, you sometimes… not have to accept what he's done because Cristiano Ronaldo did it at United and I didn't take to it too kindly at all because I think those players have an expectancy to bring everybody along with them.

“I wouldn't like it if it was at my club Manchester United and I didn't a few years ago when Cristiano did it and he went and did the 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.”

Salah’s outburst came after he spent the duration of the game against Leeds United on the bench last weekend and his frustration was doubtless made more acute as Liverpool conceded a last-gasp equaliser to draw 3-3.

“I was doing the game. I thought Salah should have come on the pitch, I said it on commentary,” he said.

“I can see why he was upset but I can also see it from Liverpool's perspective - they feel let down and that he's put a lot of attention on them that wasn't needed in a moment of challenge and difficulty.

© IMAGO - Gary Neville's take on Mo Salah

“If it was a player that didn't have the level of talent, experience or success of Mo Salah I think they'd be kicked out pretty quickly.

“But when you're that exceptional and that talented and have the presence of a great player you don't accept being put on the bench and not being put on.”

Salah will return to Liverpool's squad to face Brighton on Saturday, but his future beyond that is unclear.

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