Salah has the selfish streak and pride that is the preserve of all the greats – as was seen when then Manchester United manager Erik ten Haag, a Dutch countryman of Slot, dropped Cristiano Ronaldo at the end of his second spell at Old Trafford in November 2022.
Ronaldo’s response was to give an interview to Piers Morgan on TalkTV in which he complained, as Salah has effectively done now, that he was “betrayed by the club”.
Manchester United and Ronaldo agreed, within days, to cancel his contract.
Salah’s contract will not be cancelled.
Liverpool would, if they sold, demand a sizeable fee for a global figure who signed a new two-year contract in May, but such is the Egyptian’s strength of feeling, reconciliation looks difficult.
It remains to be seen whether Salah will even get the farewell he hinted at when Liverpool play Brighton on Saturday before he heads off to the Africa Cup of Nations.
So does the evidence support Salah’s assertion that “it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame” and that “someone doesn’t want me in the club”?
Salah has been a shadow of his old self this season. For the first time, someone who looked at the peak of his physical and footballing powers last season has started to look his age.
The contrast in numbers is stark and unflattering.
He was the inspiration as Liverpool won a 20th title last season, scoring 34 goals in 50 starts in all competitions. This term he has made 16 starts, scoring only five times.
Salah’s ability to do defensive dirty work was also called into question, with Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella suggesting they targeted Liverpool’s right flank in their 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge in October because he was “always ready to attack”.
Not a problem when Salah is providing a regular supply of goals, but brought into sharp focus when they dry up.
Salah, however, feels he is right to flag up he has hardly been Liverpool’s only problem this season.