Mohamed Salah’s public criticism of Liverpool and manager Arne Slot led to a swift reaction from the coach, who stressed that politeness should not be mistaken for weakness. The 33-year-old forward had said he was being “thrown under the bus” for Liverpool’s poor run of form and claimed he has “no relationship” with Slot. Less than 48 hours later, Salah was left out of Liverpool’s squad to face Inter in the Champions League on Tuesday evening.

Slot, 47 years old, spent more than 10 minutes answering questions at his pre-game news conference on Monday and outlined how the club had communicated with the player. “We know he is not travelling with us, so that was the only communication that’s been there from us to him. Before Saturday, the two of us have spoken a lot, sometimes longer and sometimes shorter,” he said. “That’s not the way I feel but he has the right to feel how he feels things. I haven’t felt that at all until Saturday evening for sure.

“Usually I am calm and polite but it doesn’t mean I’m weak. When a player says things like that we have to react as a club. And you can see he is not here.”

Slot acknowledged surprise at Salah’s remarks given the forward’s behaviour in recent weeks. “When I didn’t play him anymore, usually players don’t like the manager that much, but he was very respectful to the staff members and to his teammates and he trained really hard so it was a bit of a surprise when I heard he made those comments,” he said. “But it’s not the first time a player hasn’t played. My reaction to that is also clear and that’s why he isn’t here.”

Even with the fallout, Slot left the door open for reconciliation. “I’m a firm believer that there is always a return for a player.” he stated. The manager declined to say whether Salah would be available for the visit of Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield on Saturday, the player’s last possible appearance before joining Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations. The comments come amid a difficult run for the defending English champions, who have won just two of their last 10 games in the English top-flight.

“I didn’t rate you as a player, I don’t rate you as a manager, and I don’t rate you as a person.” That Roy Keane verdict, recalled from another high-profile dressing-room rupture, underlines how public rows between player and coach often force irreversible choices.

The confrontation between Mohamed Salah and Arne Slot has become similarly corrosive. Salah spoke plainly: “It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That is how I am feeling. I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame.” He later added, “I had a good relationship with the manager and all of a sudden, we don’t have any relationship.” Those words make reconciliation difficult.

Salah has a glittering Liverpool record: 250 goals, 113 assists, eight trophies, including two Premier Leagues and the Champions League, in 420 games. Yet form and figures matter to the owners. In his last 30 games, Salah has scored seven goals; in the previous 30 he scored 25. He is 33. Minutes this season also show he has not been ignored: only Cody Gakpo has more Premier League minutes than Salah (1,138 to 1,119).

Liverpool have been unbeaten in the three matches in which Salah was benched: a win over West Ham and draws with Sunderland and Leeds United. The club scored six times without him. Slot’s position is not unassailable either; he has managed four wins in 15 games. Still, breaking the manager would invite instability.

The pragmatic option is a clean split. With Salah heading to the Africa Cup of Nations next week, Liverpool could stage a farewell against Brighton & Hove Albion and then consider moving him in the January window. His contract has about 20 months remaining and his wages have been reported at around $533,000 (£400,000) a week. A sale would free those funds and allow recruitment priorities to be advanced, including the possibility of triggering the £65 million ($86 millon) release clause for Antoine Semenyo.

The club’s tradition of collective sacrifice remains relevant. As Bill Shankly put it, “For a player to be good enough to play for Liverpool, he must be prepared to run through a brick wall for me then come out fighting on the other side,” Shankly said. That principle now guides a hard decision.

Major League Soccer clubs have registered what one report calls “strong interest” in Mohamed Salah following uncertainty over his future at Liverpool. The forward, 33, remains under contract with Liverpool until 2027, but recent reporting places Saudi duo Al Hilal and Al Ittihad as early frontrunners in any move away from England.

If Salah seeks an exit from Liverpool, several MLS sides are said to be potential suitors. Given his status as a global superstar and one of the top earners in the game, only a small number of MLS clubs could realistically contemplate his signing.

Inter Miami have drawn immediate attention because they are the reigning MLS Cup winners after triumphing over the Vancouver Whitecaps. The club already has Lionel Messi as its headline Designated Player and is allocating one of the remaining DP slots to Rodrigo De Paul. The report states Miami are not expected to make a play for Salah.

Chicago Fire are identified as a plausible bidder. The Fire attempted to sign Salah in April, before he signed his current Liverpool contract, and are likely to consider another approach. Chicago’s recruitment of high-profile names in the past is noted; Bastian Schweinsteiger previously had a spell at the club, and offers have also been made to other global stars who chose different paths, with Kevin De Bruyne and Neymar among names reportedly offered deals.

An alternative option highlighted is 2025 expansion side San Diego FC, owned by British-Egyptian billionaire Mohamed Mansour. Mansour has vowed to do “whatever it takes” to support the club. San Diego finished first in the Western Conference in 2025, ahead of eventual MLS Cup runner-up Vancouver, and the ownership may see Salah as a vehicle to elevate the club’s profile further.

All developments remain speculative and tied to Salah’s contract situation at Liverpool through 2027.