Former Liverpool midfielder and captain Graeme Souness has slammed Reds winger Mohamed Salah, claiming he is the ‘most selfish player’ he’s ever seen following his touchline spat with manager Jurgen Klopp during the 2-2 draw against West Ham last weekend.
The Egyptian international was preparing to be substituted on when he was involved in an argument with Klopp following a conversation, with fellow forward Darwin Nunez having to hold him back and calm him down. Following full time, Salah continued to add fuel to the fire when he walked through the press zone claiming: “There is going to be fire today if I speak.”
,rumours have circulated around the star’s potential exit from Anfield at the end of the season, those being heightened by the two-year contract offer worth £155m from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad last summer. Now Souness believes that with Klopp’s imminent departure, and the pull of the Saudi Pro League, Salah’s own exit from the club is inevitable.
Speaking on Three Up Front, William Hill’s new podcast featuring Simon Jordan, Troy Deeney and Souness himself, he claimed: “I believe Mohamed Salah is off and leaving Liverpool. He has been fabulous for Liverpool, but if he leaves to the Saudi Pro League then he’ll be the biggest star in that part of the world.
“He no doubt has an exceptionally large opinion of himself, and he’ll have been angry at not starting the game against West Ham last week. I think the situation with Jürgen Klopp was a reaction to only being brought on with 10 minutes to go – it was more Salah than it was Klopp in that confrontation.
“Salah is the most selfish player I have ever witnessed. Even prior to that game, whenever Klopp takes him off, he is never happy about it. That is what you want from your players, if you take them off on two goals, they should want to stay on to score a third. When Sadio Mané was there they’d fall out all the time.
“Salah has been world class in his time at Liverpool. Goals change games and his goals have had an enormous influence on Liverpool since he’s been at the club. I think he still gets into the Arsenal team and certainly would’ve gotten into the Manchester City team over the past five years.”
Despite Souness’ claims, it’s believed that the club are still counting on Salah staying and being part of incoming manager Arne Slot’s plans for next season. With the Dutchman’s arrival expected over the summer, Souness has already pointed out an area where he can improve the squad and once again he included Salah in his scathing criticism of the team’s apparent ability to be ‘bullied’ in matches.
“When the going gets tough and another player puts it on him, Salah will disappear from a game,” Souness continued. “Last season at Old Trafford Lisandro Martínez went through him early on, and for the rest of the game Salah was looking over his shoulder for Martínez – he doesn’t like that side of the game. He’ll never get himself hurt.
