Paul Merson has defended Mohamed Salah following his claims that Liverpool have 'thrown him under the bus', suggesting that the club's trophy cabinet would be a lot emptier without the Egyptian.
Salah's future has become a hot topic after he questioned why he had been left out of the team by Liverpool boss Arne Slot in recent weeks, despite the Reds being in a poor run of form.
The 33-year-old, who signed a contract extension at Anfield towards the end of last season, also suggested that his relationship with Slot had broken down and was subsequently left out of the squad that beat Inter Milan in the Champions League.
Salah does have at least one supporter in the Magic Man though, who breaks down who he believes is right and wrong in the saga.
'I'm with Salah - Liverpool would've won nothing without him'
"I'm on Mo Salah's side. I think he's gotten too much stick.
"Maybe he shouldn't have done what he did, but he's a human being. He's a winner. He's a legend. The figures he's put up on the wing - goals and assists - is off the charts. We'll never see that again in my opinion.
"All he's done is say he wants to play football. He's got the hump because he's not playing. How could you be slaughtered for that?
"There are other players in the team that could've been dropped and he's probably thinking 'we're not very good and I'm not playing.' I just think it's wrong.
"Liverpool wouldn't have won anything if it wasn't for Mo Salah. You take away his goals and assists and I don't think there's any trophies in that cabinet for a while."
'Frustrated Salah can score from anywhere'
"I don't believe because he's won things before he should be playing. But he's not the only one who has been playing poorly. Mo Salah can score from anywhere. He's the best, worst player.
"Some days he is the best player you've ever seen and others you think 'really? What's the hype?' He can be having the worst game ever but it never affects him. He can always pop up.
"As a manager, when you're struggling, do you drop your best player? That's where I think he's got the hump and he's just come out and been honest.
"He could've left in January for free. He chose to stay. He's sitting there at 33 thinking 'I want to play football. I'm coming towards the end of my career.' He isn't playing and he's gotten frustrated."
'Salah is suffering without Alexander-Arnold'
"You're brining in players to play on the right wing that aren't better than Salah. You've got to remember, that he has played with four or five full-backs already this season.
"I don't think they took that into consideration when Trent Alexander-Arnold left. I think they were lazy.
"I think they thought 'well we've got [Conor] Bradley. We can play [Dominik] Szoboszlai there. We can play Curtis Jones there.' [Jeremie] Frimpong comes in, he's an attacking player more than a defensive player.
"When Alexander-Arnold was playing there, he used to get the ball on the halfway line and you had to go engage because he was the best passer in the Premier League. He would destroy you.
"Now all of a sudden, if the right-back gets the ball on the halfway line, teams are going 'you can have it. We'll double up on Mo Salah.'
"I played with one of the best players England have ever had in John Barnes. I still hear people say he never produced for England. We used to kick off and two players would go and stand on him. It's exactly the same with Liverpool now.
"If Salah doesn't play well, Liverpool don't win. He's taken a lot of stick, but I don't think we've taken into consideration the full-backs playing behind him."
'New contract a mistake but he isn't to blame for poor defending'
"I said on transfer deadline day that I wouldn't have given him £400,00-per-week because your legs can go. His legs could've gone while Liverpool are winning every week and you wouldn't know.
"I read a report the other day that Liverpool are poor defensively because of Mo Salah for not tracking back. He never tracked back. Why would you want him to come back? Keep him up front and give him the ball.
"Because the defence has been so bad, I think he's taken the brunt of it and it's been blown out of proportion.
"He's one of the greatest players ever in the Premier League, but now he's being talked about as if he's average at best."
'Salah has done his team-mates a favour'
"If I had done it, Tony Adams would've said nothing. He's in the team, he doesn't know. It's alright everybody else judging him because they're all in the team. If [Virgil] Van Dijk didn't play for three weeks, he wouldn't be sitting lauging and joking. He would be fuming.
"Sooner or later, he would break. I don't see that there would be a problem with the players. He hasn't slaughtered the players.
"I think he's done the players a favour. We're not looking at them now. We're not looking at their performances. Everybody is talking about Mo Salah.
"They went to Inter Milan and got a very good result but before that they failed to beat Leeds and failed to beat Sunderland. When was the last time Liverpool failed to beat teams that had just gotten promoted? Let alone two.
"If they'd had won 5-0 and he's sitting on the bench, I think he keeps his mouth shut. When they're failing to beat newly promoted teams, you're getting the hump. Especially if you're not getting on against Leeds. You're talking about their go to man.
"If Mo Salah doesn't get back in that team, then he's better off leaving."
Illyrian
0
You are wrong, if Salah played against Barcelona in second leg of semi-final of UEFA CL in Anfield in 2019, Liverpool never would have won the CL that year.
Zeaiknopuz
0
Ten Hag of Liverpool, Slot out
Kudaoruz
0
Paul Merson can be anything but on this one he is right Salah deserves more respect and not this nonsense the club is doing
my-blood-is-red
0
Dumbest comment ever
that's what he has gotten paid to do still what goes around comes around the club did back him over mane...and mane just took it as a man and left so how now all because he has gotten d he wanna talk about be thrown under bus what u thinks happens to mane
my-blood-is-red
0
I think people need to revisit the past and remember that Salah hadn’t achieved anything close to this level before joining Liverpool. So if Merson believes Liverpool owes Salah for everything he’s done, that logic is biased. Playing for Liverpool is a privilege. Long before he arrived, the club had already won 5 Champions Leagues and 18 league titles, not to mention domestic cups. Liverpool has always been Liverpool — legends come and go, but no player is bigger than the club. I love Salah, but if he doesn’t apologise, then the claims that he’s selfish and self-centred will feel justified. What he did was completely wrong — 200 percent.
Even if Salah had a reason for doing that interview, he was still wrong. At this point, it’s obvious he did it intentionally, and we’re all struggling to understand the motive behind such a public outburst. When you try to think it through — whether he did it for himself, for the club, for the coach, or for the Liverpool fans — you quickly realise it benefits no one.
my-blood-is-red
1
We would have won Nottingham without gravenberch who helped stabilised the midfield too it a team work not just salah alone
nusbdeimtz
1
so true without Salah they'll have few trophies...keep on with this gakbo garbage...viva Dias viva
TheMadristasince1992
0
at least Salah can feel what Sadio Mane felt
You mean: Atleast Salah can feel when Sadio Mane left.
suaaekpu
0
Another drunken Football Pundit telling viewers that without Mo Salah, Jurgen Klop and the job he did at Liverpool were down to one player. I wonder why Saka didn't win the EPL trophy all those years 😂🤣
/MADRIDISTA
1
Yeah, the rest of the 10 players on the field just stand still while Mo-aning Salah dribbles past 8 players everytime he scores
You’re so senseless bro.
Munnikfc
1
Yeah, the rest of the 10 players on the field just stand still while Mo-aning Salah dribbles past 8 players everytime he scores
understanding of English is ur problem
Arjenrobben11
1
Yeah, the rest of the 10 players on the field just stand still while Mo-aning Salah dribbles past 8 players everytime he scores
binacimoru
2
The Truth Must Be Told
Niucikmpru
0
If he played for Arsenal, Nothing he could won
Ducabikpu
2
Salah would have won nothing without Liverpool
Riacinoty
2
I think people need to revisit the past and remember that Salah hadn’t achieved anything close to this level before joining Liverpool. So if Merson believes Liverpool owes Salah for everything he’s done, that logic is biased. Playing for Liverpool is a privilege. Long before he arrived, the club had already won 5 Champions Leagues and 18 league titles, not to mention domestic cups. Liverpool has always been Liverpool — legends come and go, but no player is bigger than the club. I love Salah, but if he doesn’t apologise, then the claims that he’s selfish and self-centred will feel justified. What he did was completely wrong — 200 percent.
That's how you people talk when Ronaldo did he's own interview, Liverpool is great club,yes we all know. But they're trying to let you understand that......the time when Salah play for Liverpool,if for not he's goal scoring and assists, Liverpool wouldn't have won anything during Salah time. Try to understand English.
NelsonSmith
0
Stupid Merson ... if Salah causes teams to win on his own why hasn't he won Egypt the Nations Cup or World Cup or When he played for Roma... You are full of shitty talk and that is what you are only good at. Stop talking nonsense. You say he misses Arnold, so it was Arnold who played better not him then. Don't just try to be significant where you are a non-entity
Dumbest comment ever
zuhdemor
3
Even if Salah had a reason for doing that interview, he was still wrong. At this point, it’s obvious he did it intentionally, and we’re all struggling to understand the motive behind such a public outburst. When you try to think it through — whether he did it for himself, for the club, for the coach, or for the Liverpool fans — you quickly realise it benefits no one.
robdenrsuz
2
I think people need to revisit the past and remember that Salah hadn’t achieved anything close to this level before joining Liverpool. So if Merson believes Liverpool owes Salah for everything he’s done, that logic is biased. Playing for Liverpool is a privilege. Long before he arrived, the club had already won 5 Champions Leagues and 18 league titles, not to mention domestic cups. Liverpool has always been Liverpool — legends come and go, but no player is bigger than the club. I love Salah, but if he doesn’t apologise, then the claims that he’s selfish and self-centred will feel justified. What he did was completely wrong — 200 percent.
bro don't act like you know much, Liverpool had 5 ucls, but the how long had they taken without a trophy not until Salah came in, sometimes you just feel the confidence to text what you haven't analyzed
yacabdnosz
2
thanks alot paul manson 4 saying the truth ,i supported salah big tym n YNWA 4lyf 4ever.
zuhdemor
1
I think people need to revisit the past and remember that Salah hadn’t achieved anything close to this level before joining Liverpool. So if Merson believes Liverpool owes Salah for everything he’s done, that logic is biased. Playing for Liverpool is a privilege. Long before he arrived, the club had already won 5 Champions Leagues and 18 league titles, not to mention domestic cups. Liverpool has always been Liverpool — legends come and go, but no player is bigger than the club. I love Salah, but if he doesn’t apologise, then the claims that he’s selfish and self-centred will feel justified. What he did was completely wrong — 200 percent.
zuhdemor
0
I think people need to revisit the past and remember that Salah hadn’t achieved anything close to this level before joining Liverpool. So if Merson believes Liverpool owes Salah for everything he’s done, that logic is biased. Playing for Liverpool is a privilege. Long before he arrived, the club had already won 5 Champions Leagues and 18 league titles, not to mention domestic cups. Liverpool has always been Liverpool — legends come and go, but no player is bigger than the club. I love Salah, but if he doesn’t apologise, then the claims that he’s selfish and self-centred will feel justified. What he did was completely wrong — 200 percent.
Huyadeiory
0
Wrong way to look at the situation. They would moulded another world class player.
vumaeinpy
0
Stupid Merson ... if Salah causes teams to win on his own why hasn't he won Egypt the Nations Cup or World Cup or When he played for Roma... You are full of shitty talk and that is what you are only good at. Stop talking nonsense. You say he misses Arnold, so it was Arnold who played better not him then. Don't just try to be significant where you are a non-entity
real dunce.
josekorty
0
Stupid Merson ... if Salah causes teams to win on his own why hasn't he won Egypt the Nations Cup or World Cup or When he played for Roma... You are full of shitty talk and that is what you are only good at. Stop talking nonsense. You say he misses Arnold, so it was Arnold who played better not him then. Don't just try to be significant where you are a non-entity
fool and senseless idiot person mad person mumu
Kubklnps
0
Paul is very very sensible he thinks he reads and understands what he's doing great man forever you remain thanks for your support we all support Mo Because he deserves the best not like other Man who was using own goals like water but who don't know how to think before he talks
Tooabcknor
2
Arsenal would win nothing with everybody 🤪
jodckortuz
5
I don't understand why some low IQ people don't believe what Paul merson said about Salah..100% truth. Let take cr7 for example, he's not performing well in Portugal but he still plays, because he's earned the respect and best Portuguese player ever, so u don't treat such player like others. You can't drop Salah and get bad results and expect him to keep him keep quiet because he knows what he would have done when given chance to play. You don't treat a legend like that and expect him to keep to himself knowing that he's not the problem but the whole team is at fault, but this average coach has to listen from outside, which is not the solution to the problem 🤔 😕 🤷
muzaceintz
0
Liverpool should go get aral simsir a very good player
nodacioptz
5
Thank you Paul Merson for this incisive analysis.I stand with Mo salah.
jodckortuz
0
This is the truth with real facts, long post, but you will realize that all true LFC fans stand with Salah... For newbies, please be minded that a new football dictionary synonym was introduced such as "carragher=stupid" Enjoy 1- Slot never really talked to Salah about being sided, when asked about it in conference, he stuttered first, and then claimed he had a short and longer talk with Salah... seems those were for 20 seconds or so. Slot really looked carragher when defending himself. 2- Slot previously claimed publicly that he was doing rotation, but then he sided him for 3 matches, clear indication of carragherity, deception and that he was doing it on purpose. No single person pointed at Slot who lied in public. 3- In 3rd match against Leeds, almost all players on bench played, except for Salah, given that he is still the best player in LFC, this is completely a disgrace and childish act to provoke him, hang on i will explain in a moment why he is still the best and why Slot's tactics and selections were carragher, but for now, Salah certainly will and has the right to outburst like that. 4-Slot is indeed weak, mentioning "who is going to talk first" or "I am not weak" clearly indicate that he has mental carragher issues. 5- Slot and other carragher fans claiming that Salah is out of form... Slot was listening to Carragher and probably watched a video online where some carragher analyst claimed that Diaz had largest number of tackles, and that Salah had lowest. This caragher mentality should relate mainly to defence and midfield, and ignores the fact that Diaz and Gakpo were competing for the same position. Diaz when disposessed, gets upset and run after ball, he was not defending. So how were they good if Gakpo was competing with Diaz... 6-Interesting enough, Salah's number of key passes are almost identical to last year. WHAT THE HELL...., so why most carragher coaches and fans claim that he is out of form. 7- Salah is getting less key passes to him, his shots will certainly get reduced, so eventually, carragher coaches like Slot will think he is not performimg. 8- New players like Ekitike and others need to show themselves, they will be very selfish, it's normal, but a wise coach should have this in mind without bias or carragherity. Keeping in mind that Gravenberch rarely makes through passes to right of the pitch because his weak foot is way too weak. I do remember Klopp hailing Salah for his positioning without the ball and the fact he drags normally two opponent defenders with him that can help others 9- So why are they conceding too many goals? Answer is simply that full backs are not performing at all, especially Kerkez who is just too young to understand the game play. Slot also did carragher experiments in right back... the PSV goal that everyone pointed towards Salah, well, the opponent dribbled past him, but then we saw large gap without midifelder or the right back (Slot was experimenting Jones in that position). 10- Finally, why less scored goals... this is pure carragher tactics by Slot, for some reason, whenever they attack, you see 5 or 6 players in opponent box, not only this opens the risk to lose the ball and get counter attacks, but also pushes the opponent players to park the bus, and then all carragher analysts including Carragher will say that they parked the bus. Look at when Salah (the out of form) dribbled to make key pass in NFO match, look at end of the wave attack, and you will see 6 LFC players in opponent box. This is carragher.
Thank you bro, you really understand football ⚽️
pubdekluyz
3
Stupid Merson ... if Salah causes teams to win on his own why hasn't he won Egypt the Nations Cup or World Cup or When he played for Roma... You are full of shitty talk and that is what you are only good at. Stop talking nonsense. You say he misses Arnold, so it was Arnold who played better not him then. Don't just try to be significant where you are a non-entity
Tatabilmos
0
The same with Manchester City, the moment they signed Haaland they won the champions league trophy 🏆, when they will say Haaland made it possible to win the Champions League after joining Manchester city.
Mokadlmyz
3
at least Salah can feel what Sadio Mane felt
luwabdos
3
we stand with mo salah
Bidbcdelyz
1
Salah is not the only player ...who helped to win the trophys ... what about the likes of Mane,firmino,etc I accept the club made a big mistake selling Diaz,Nunez .... we need players who has the no die attitude... Liverpool means most of the time win will be 3- 0 or 2- 0 but now we are losing with tactics...the coach has not come up with some thing fast...we are very slow in the counter attack
Rewinprsy
1
We stand with Mo Salah, rain or shine
mapbcelt
1
and mo salah would've won nothing without liverpool
ቢላቴናውNeymar
1
of course
lowcdenost
0
this is the world in which we live Liverpool needed Salah to win many trophies and also with Salah so it is fifty fifty everyone needs each other so a good club need a good player a good player need a good club so I life good thing comes and go just relationship come and some times soldier go soldier come barracks still remain and that is life
siuacortz
0
we all know that but time also looks like he need a new challenge or he have to train hard and build his leval history it will be allways remembered with the club and all of us we live him for now he need to take a dicition stay and train hard or take a nother chance futbol changes also Salah has no player that can feed him still he can go to buyern he will Play a good futbol I'm sure even real or barca even any club he likes or stay back and find back your way in that how it goes be calm train hard every black day there's a Brite day
Keudiklopz
0
Salah wouldve won nothing without LFC!!
Nobody is bigger than the club!!
vuzctuyz
2
no Liverpool no salah
vukademos
3
Salah would have WON NOTHING WITHOUT LUVETPOOL!
Litelntz
2
yes right but at the end of the day that's what he has gotten paid to do still what goes around comes around the club did back him over mane...and mane just took it as a man and left so how now all because he has gotten d he wanna talk about be thrown under bus what u thinks happens to mane
wuyclmnpz
2
me too... How can they do like this to the legend that still best player at Liverpool
Zawbknoruz
0
merson must sit down n take chill pill. he must keep quiet
Zawbknoruz
1
paul merson's head is full of faeces and says nothing better about liverpool. liverpool is not a one man team and he says stuff as if salah won trophies singlehandedly thts a big NO. Lets nt discredit th other players as if salah was playing along. call a spade a spade, he messed up wth his outburst n it must b treated as such. no player is bigger than the team n salah is no xception, he is a player yes but he has never carried Liverpool on his own
pehabinsz
1
Sloi is just an employee but not a fan of Liverpool as was Jurgen Klopp. He started destroying the team that won him the title in his first season at Anfield thinking that he would make something bigger than what he found and it's backfiring. May the owners have spiritual eyes & act for the good of the Reds.
kowacekntz
0
I will walked alone with Jesus than to live in a pool full of crocodiles!!!