Salah repeats Ronaldo's pattern: making statements that will put Liverpool in a difficult position.
From being benched in the 3-3 draw against Leeds to the infamous 'thrown under the bus' remark, Salah is following in Ronaldo's footsteps from 2022; his form of 5 goals in 19 games, 9 in 33, puts Liverpool in a difficult position.
Elland Road, a night of 3-3 draw. Mohamed Salah didn't leave the bench, but the biggest uproar didn't come from the pitch, but from the interview room: he said he was 'thrown under the bus' and 'someone wants me to take all the blame'. For Liverpool and manager Arne Slot, that was a more resounding alarm bell than any goal.
From the bench to the eye of the storm of public statements.
The match against Leeds United saw Salah benched for the third consecutive time, and this time he wasn't used. Immediately afterwards, his comments took the airwaves, commensurate with his 250 goals since 2017, but going against the team's best interests.
The key point: form. This season Salah has only scored 5 goals in 19 games. Slot patiently gave him time to regain his rhythm before making the bold decision: to bench the team's biggest icon.
A prolonged decline in form
This isn't a temporary problem. At the end of last season, Salah only scored 4 goals in Liverpool's last 14 games. Since the end of February, he has scored 9 goals in 33 appearances across all competitions. The cold numbers indicate a decline long enough to be considered an accident.
When words overshadow the performance
No great player wants to admit this moment: when what they say becomes louder than what they accomplish on the pitch. Ronaldo experienced that feeling in November 2022 when he shared that he 'felt betrayed' and alluded to a broken relationship with Erik ten Hag. The consequence was a new move to the Saudi Pro League and a tarnished legacy at Manchester United.
Salah is following in that same footsteps: expressing frustration through statements, putting the club in a position where it has to choose. This is a common power lever used by superstars – but it's only effective when their on-field performance remains strong enough to force the team to side with them.
Tactics and roles: from asset to risk?
Salah's defensive contributions have never been his strong point. When he scores regularly, Liverpool can accept that imbalance thanks to other players compensating. Previously, teammates like Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, and Diogo Jota often did more off-ball work to cover up his weaknesses. Currently, Isak and Wirtz are unable to provide similar defensive contributions, making Salah's limitations more apparent and negatively impacting the overall structure.
The lesson from Ronaldo at Manchester United is clear: when goals are no longer coming, any lack of intensity and off-ball contribution immediately turns the superstar into a burden. Salah hasn't reached that level in Slot's team yet, but words at Leeds could be harmful in another way – disrupting internal unity.
Dressing room power and Liverpool's dilemma
Salah's statements sounded like an ultimatum to the leadership: side with him or side with the manager. But it's unlikely the club would choose a declining, high-earning star over a manager who arguably led Liverpool to the Premier League title last season.
The essence remains simple: if Salah plays near his best, he won't lose his starting place. His past achievements have placed him among legends, but his current form brings things back to a competitive level. And here, the one pushing Salah 'under the bus' is none other than Salah himself.
Key numbers
| Index | Value |
|---|---|
| Goals for Liverpool since 2017 | 250 |
| Current season | 5 goals/19 matches |
| Recent period (since the end of February) | 9 goals/33 matches |
| End of last season | 4 goals/14 matches |
| Number of consecutive matches as a substitute | 3 |
| last match | Drawn 3-3 with Leeds United, substitutes not used. |
Amidst the uproar over his statements and the intermittent goalscoring spree, Salah's only option to regain power is to return to what he did best: deciding matches with football, not with a microphone.
