Mohamed Salah‘s Liverpool exit has been the focus of Wednesday’s news cycle, with replacement talk and the reasons for his exit in the headlines, plus the latest on Xabi Alonso.
Mo Salah and Arne Slot’s relationship behind exit – claims
There has been no shortage of reflections and updates regarding Salah and what is next for Liverpool, with plenty to unpack after the unexpected timing of the announcement.
A particular claim surfaced on Wednesday from winwin‘s Ismael Mahmoud, an Egyptian journalist who has seemingly been close to the situation dating back to his extension last year.
He claims, according to sources within the club, that the “main reason” for Salah’s departure was due to the relationship between him and Arne Slot.
It is described as having “turned 180 degrees from the best to the worst ever between Mo and a coach during his career.”
Salah, it is said, “received support from most of the players in the Liverpool dressing room” as “he is not the cause of the problem and the decline in the team’s performance and results, and he did not deserve to be treated as if he needed to prove himself.”
While the validity of the claims are uncertain, there is no question that Slot and Salah’s relationship is not what it was last year and that the player felt he was being pushed out, as he said himself.
You expect Salah to keep relatively quiet for the remainder of the season, but it is hard to believe he will remain tight-lipped once he leaves the club!
LFC News: Salah replacement and Xabi Alonso “ready to join”
• Mo Salah‘s agreement will see him leave on a free transfer this summer, and the club are already “sounding out” replacment options – though they won’t advance their search until after the season
• According to a well-connected source in Germany, Xabi Alonso is “ready to join” Liverpool in the summer, though he does want a say on transfers after being silenced at Real Madrid. Are we choosing to believe it?
• Andy Robertson‘s tribute to Mo had fans questioning whether he was making a pointed remark to the current squad after referencing Salah’s elite mentality. The tell-alls this summer will be intriguing!
• Michael Olise is an obvious choice to replace Salah, but Bayern Munich have declared he is not for sale and they are “relaxed” about his future. He would demand more than £100m
• Liverpool legend John Toshack, 77, has been diagnosed with dementia. He played 247 times for the Reds between 1970 and 1977 (Daily Mail)
OPINION: Time to celebrate Mo Salah
In the wake of Salah’s announcement, Rob Glover reflected on the news and the opportunity it affords us to give the No. 11 a farewell that befits the legacy he will leave behind:
“This gives us that opportunity.
“It gives the fanbase the space to show gratitude, to reflect properly, and to send Salah off with the love and respect his Liverpool career deserves. His legacy was already secure, but this helps keep it fully intact, with the story centred where it should be, on what he gave to this club and what he means to all of us.”
Latest football news: De Zerbi’s Tottenham stance and Newcastle target new forward
• Roberto De Zerbi is not expected to join Tottenham, or any other club for that matter, before the end of the season – surely no manager wants to jump on that train right now (Sky Italy)
• The Court of Arbitration for Sport have confirmed that Senegal have lodged an appeal over the decision to strip them of their AFCON title – crazy it has even gone this far! (CAS)
• Ipswich Town have sought to defend having Nigel Farage pose with a club shirt at their stadium this week, insisting they are “apolitical” – they might want to look up what that means…
• Newcastle will target another forward this summer despite spending £125m on Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa – if only they could play Isak and Ekitike in a 4-4-2 (Sky Sports)
Liverpool FC: On this day
In 1950, Liverpool secured their passage to their first-ever Wembley FA Cup final, and a future club manager was on the scoresheet!
George Kay had led his side to a semi-final, and it was Everton who stood in their way of a trip to London. But the Blues could not crack Liverpool’s defence at Maine Road.
Bob Paisley scored first and then Billy Liddell made sure of the 2-0 result in the second half in front of 72,000 – it’s always a good day when you send Everton packing!
Liverpool’s line-up on the day was: Cyril Sidlow, Ray Lambert, Eddie Spicer, Phil Taylor, Bill Jones, Bob Paisley, Jimmy Payne, Kevin Baron, Albert Stubbins, Willie Fagan, Billy Liddell.