Salah Dropped for Inter Milan Clash After Public Outburst

Liverpool have omitted Mohamed Salah from the squad travelling to face Inter Milan in the Champions League, following the forward’s sharp public criticism of manager Arne Slot and his recent treatment at the club.

Salah trained with the first team on Monday and appeared in good spirits, yet his name was missing when Liverpool released their matchday group. The decision comes two days after the Egyptian international said he felt he had been “thrown under the bus” by the club after being left on the bench for a third straight match during the 3–3 draw at Leeds.

The 33-year-old, who was not used at all at Elland Road, told reporters he no longer had a working relationship with Slot and suggested someone within the club wanted him to take the blame for the team’s struggles.

Reports indicate that Slot supported the decision to leave Salah out of the squad for the trip to Italy. However, Liverpool are understood not to have taken formal disciplinary action. Club sources described the temporary exclusion as a move intended to stabilise the situation and allow tensions to ease.

Salah’s comments have amplified speculation that Liverpool could consider offers for him in the January window. Interest from the Saudi Pro League has persisted for more than a year.

After this weekend’s home fixture against Brighton, Salah is due to join Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Since joining Liverpool from Roma in 2017, Salah has amassed 250 goals in 420 appearances, becoming the club’s third-highest scorer and one of its most celebrated players. He also remains Liverpool’s highest-paid footballer after signing fresh terms in April.

But his output has dipped sharply during a difficult team campaign. Liverpool sit ninth in the Premier League, and Salah has managed only four league goals in 13 matches. His omission from Champions League line-ups against Galatasaray and Eintracht Frankfurt earlier this season already hinted at Slot’s dissatisfaction with the attacker’s form and defensive contribution.

Salah last started for Liverpool in the 4–1 defeat to PSV Eindhoven on November 26 and has not scored since early November against Aston Villa.

The timing of his interview has presented Slot with an additional challenge as he attempts to revive a team that has won just four of its last 15 matches. The trip to Milan is further complicated by fitness issues for Cody Gakpo, Federico Chiesa, and Wataru Endo, leaving Slot with only 19 players available.

Slot and Alisson Becker are scheduled to speak to the media at San Siro ahead of Tuesday’s meeting with Inter.