EXCLUSIVE: Mohamed Salah has threatened to ruin his Liverpool legacy after his petulant outburst against the club and Arne Slot, but another Liverpool star has “every right” to kick off but remains a “true pro”
Mohamed Salah has threatened to ruin his Liverpool legacy after his petulant outburst against the club and Arne Slot.
The 33-year-old Egyptian claimed after the Leeds draw last Saturday that he had been “thrown under the bus” after being benched for the last three games. Salah was then omitted from the squad that travelled to Milan to play Inter in the Champions League midweek as punishment.
Salah’s petulant comments have risked fracturing the Reds’ dressing room at a pivotal time in their season and Slot’s future, with the Dutchman under pressure following Liverpool’s miserable start to their title defence. After talks between the pair on Friday, they seem to have settled their differences – for now at least – with Salah set to re-join the Reds’ squad for the match against Brighton at Anfield on Saturday.
But former Reds striker Dean Saunders has suggested it’s not Salah but his team-mate Andy Robertson who is the player who “had every right” to throw a tantrum, rather than the Egyptian forward.
For the first time since joining Liverpool eight years ago, Robertson was dropped as the club’s first-choice left-back following the £40million signing of Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth in the summer.
However, the 22-year-old Hungarian has failed to adapt to life at Anfield but controversially continued to be selected over the experienced Scot.
Speaking exclusively to Daily Star Sport via William Hill, Saunders said: “Andy Robertson’s been quite criminally overlooked this season, just giving Kerkez his chance after chance, when Robertson hasn’t really done anything wrong the last however long he’s been at the club for.
“He’s got every right to create a problem, and he’s never said a word. When the camera goes on him on the bench, he’s cheering when the goal goes in, he’s having a go at the referee when he gives fouls against Liverpool. He’s with the team. He’s not come out petulantly like Mo Salah.
“He’s obviously thinking ‘I know I’m better than him (Kerkez) and eventually he’ll have to put me back in the team. But if I start rocking the boat I’m off. They’ll get rid of me’. He’s behaved like a true pro. If you ask me at the start the season, name the five best left backs in the world, he’s in the mix.
“Years ago, Kerkez would come into the club and watch Andy Robertson and watch how Liverpool play first before you step into the big time, because you can’t make mistakes.”
Robertson has continued to fight for his place and started Liverpool’s win over Inter in midweek.
Despite the limited minutes, Robertson has been head and shoulders above Kerkez in the first half of the campaign when he’s been given a chance. But unlike Salah, the 31-year-old is fighting for his team-mates.