Slot in fresh Salah ‘scapegoat’ claim as transfer decision looms

Robin Bairner

13 Apr 2026 11:11 BST
5 min read

Arne Slot, Mohamed Salah, Liverpool — © IMAGO

Liverpool manager Arne Slot’s handling of Mohamed Salah has again come under fire, with the Reds boss accused of making a “scapegoat” of the Egypt forward in an echo back to the pair’s problems at the end of 2025.

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Salah was surprisingly dropped by the Liverpool boss for the Champions League quarter-final first leg against PSG and did not get any game time at all in a comprehensive 2-0 loss.

He was, however, back in the Reds’ starting XI for Saturday’s Premier League clash against Fulham and was on target in a 2-0 win that keeps the Anfield club on track to qualify for the Champions League next term.

‘Salah deserves better treatment’

Slot’s treatment of Salah has come under fire in the Egyptian media, with Magdy Salama, a journalist for El Balad and Al Qahera News claiming that the forward has been made a scapegoat by the Dutchman.

“I think Mohamed Salah deserved better treatment, particularly from the club's management and coaches,” he told FootMercato.

“Liverpool's poor season made Salah a scapegoat for the team's poor performances, but in my opinion, it wasn't his fault. The departure of influential players like Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luis Diaz, as well as the decline in form of the midfielders, affected the entire team.

“If you asked any Liverpool fan, or any fan of Premier League football in general, or of Egypt in particular, they would tell you that Salah would start against PSG given his crucial role in the Reds’ lineup and his exceptional ability to decide big games.

“However, it seems that Slot's stubbornness cost him a 2-0 defeat, as Liverpool failed to register a single shot on target throughout the 90 minutes.”

Current ETV

Mohamed Salah

F, M (R)

Liverpool

Mohamed Salah

F, M (R)

Liverpool

ETV Range

€43.3M - €53M

Salah transfer decision soon

Salah has already announced that he will leave Liverpool in the summer, with his relationship with Slot clearly not beneficial to either his form or that of the team.

The Egyptian journalist, meanwhile, admits that it remains unclear where the 33-year-old will play next season.

“Mohamed Salah hasn't yet decided on his next destination. I believe he is capable of continuing his career in Europe, whether in Spain, France, or Italy,” Salama continued.

“No one can deny Salah's immense talent, and although there are offers from Saudi Arabia and the United States on the horizon, he is expected to make his next decision in the near future, before the World Cup.”

© IMAGO - Liverpool's Mo Salah: Frustrated on the bench

Salah hits out at Slot

Salah has been unsettled at Liverpool for months, with his relationship with Slot strained since the autumn. This led to the Egyptian King lashing out at his manager in a very public manner.

“I've done so much for this club. Everyone can see that over the years, especially last season. To be on the bench - I don't know why. I feel like the club is throwing me under the bus. That's how I feel,” Salah fumed.

“I don't know why it always happens to me. 'We throw Mo under the bus, because he's the problem.' I don't think I'm the problem.

“The club made a lot of promises this summer, so far, I've been benched three games in a row. You can't say they've kept their promises.”

The feeling from the Egyptian media seems to echo that of their superstar player: that he has been mishandled this season, and that Slot is firmly to blame.

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