Graeme Souness delivers Mohamed Salah verdict after explosive Liverpool interview - 'Beggars belief'

Graeme Souness

Graeme Souness has delivered his verdict on Mohamed Salah after the fellow Liverpool legend's explosive interview following the 3-3 draw at Leeds United on Saturday.

The Egyptian superstar accused the club of throwing him "under the bus" after being benched for the third game running.

Salah, the third highest goalscorer in Liverpool's history, also claimed that his relationship with head coach Arne Slot had completely broken down.

But Souness, who made 359 appearances for the Reds as a player before going on to manage the club, has backed the manager and criticised the player, who has now been left out of the squad for Tuesday's Champions League clash at Inter.

Souness

“The first thing that jumps out to me - it is all in past tense not what he's doing at present or moving forward.

"It is five goals in 18 games and it doesn't take a mathematician to work out that his numbers are very poor.

"For whatever reason, he has not been at it this season and he has to accept that. He doesn't deserve to be in the team. He has nobody else to blame but himself.

"The damning thing for me was when he said that he didn't have to turn up and fight for his place, because of what he has done for the club. It beggars belief."

Salah was instrumental in Liverpool's 20th top-fight title triumph last season, which was Slot's first in charge after taking over from Jurgen Klopp.

He finished the campaign by winning the Premier League Player of the Season award, the Golden Boot for most goals scored and the Playmaker award for most assists.

That made Salah the first player in Premier League history to win all three awards in the same season.

However, like many of his team-mates, his form has dipped in the current campaign.

He has netted just five times in 18 games in all competitions following the Community Shield with Crystal Palace and that has led Slot to drop him.

And Souness added: "Every day you should train at match tempo so that when the game comes round, you are ready for the intensity.

“He should be setting the standards. He has a responsibility as a senior player to set the standards every single day in training. He has to get back to that.

"He has obviously been coasting and the manager has seen that. And the supporters should back the manager.

“Slot will be doing the exact same things as he won last season when Liverpool won the league.

"The priority for Arne Slot is winning the next game. He will be scratching his head wondering why Liverpool isn't winning games.

“People talk about the new players but park that, where are the players who won the league last year?

“Players should look in the mirror and take responsibility. The idea that Arne Slot should be under pressure is nonsense."

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