Michael Owen's Take on Mo Salah Interview Has Got People Talking

Michael Owen has made his feelings abundantly clear on Mohamed Salah's decision to publicly vent his frustration at Arne Slot and the Liverpool hierarchy.

Salah, who was benched for a third time in a row for their Premier League clash against Leeds on Saturday, says he feels like he has been "thrown under the bus" by Liverpool as they continue to struggle.

In fact, the Egyptian forward claimed that he doesn’t have a relationship with manager Arne Slot and cast doubt on his future by saying he will say goodbye to Liverpool fans against Brighton next week.

“It is not acceptable for me," he added in the bombshell interview. "I don’t know why this is happening to me. I don’t get it. I think if this was somewhere else, every club would protect its player.”

Salah added: "I’m sitting on the bench for 90 minutes. The third time on the bench, I think for the first time in my career. I’m very, very disappointed to be fair. I have done so much for this club down the years and especially last season.”

The 33-year-old, who is the third-highest scorer in Liverpool's history with 250 goals, has split opinion with his public outburst.

Chris Sutton, the former Blackburn and Celtic striker, slammed Salah in a post on social media. “Embarrassing from Mo Salah and disrespectful to his teammates and his manager," he said.

“Salah is no different from any other player," added Sutton. "If a player’s form drops as Salah’s has, he is the same as anyone else and has to accept being benched. But he thinks he’s too good to be benched sadly.”

Michael Owen has also criticised the Liverpool forward for displaying such a public show of frustration.

"Oh @mosalah. I can imagine how you feel," said Owen. "You’ve carried this team for a long time and won everything there is to win. But this is a team game and you simply can’t publicly say what you’ve said."

He added: "You’re going to afcon in a week. Surely you bite your lip, enjoy representing your country and see how the land lies when you get back?"

Owen, who progressed through the youth ranks at Liverpool before making his breakthrough as a teenager, received a huge response for his take on the situation, with his post receiving more than 1.3 million impressions at the time of writing.

One fan commented, saying: "Honestly you’re the last person who has credibility to talk about how a Liverpool player should stay loyal," while a second wrote: "Bro is saying all this after playing for Manchester United."

A third added: "Reasonable take, but nothing will change after AFCON anyway. Timing was right in my opinion."

Full transcript of Mo Salah's remarkable post-match interview after Leeds game

Can I just ask you what you were thinking as the game played out and it’s a bit of a crazy second half in particular and you’re sitting on the bench unable to come on?

“Yeah, it’s kind of, I don’t know what to say, it’s funny but I couldn’t believe it. It’s a very disappointing result for us as a team because we expect to win a game like that.

“We managed to score two goals in the beginning and the game was going in our direction. But I think we conceded silly goals. Same as we did before, while I’m playing, so nobody can take it that I am attacking my teammates or something because I’m on the bench.

“But we concede the same silly goals as we did before. So we have to just try to keep the clean sheet and win the game.”

When you say you couldn’t believe it, what couldn’t you believe?

“I’m sitting on the bench for 90 minutes, I think that’s the third time I’m on the bench. I think it’s the first time in my career but I’m very disappointed. I’m very, very disappointed to be fair. I have done so much for this club, everybody can see that during the years and especially last season.

“Sitting on the bench, I don’t know why, it seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That’s how I feel it. I think it’s very clear that someone wants me to get all the blame. The club promised me in the summer for a lot of promises and nothing. So far, I’m on the bench three games.

“So I can’t say that they keep the promise. I said that many times before, I had a good relationship with the manager and all of a sudden we don’t have any relationship. I don’t know why. It seems to me, how I see it, that someone doesn’t want me in the club.

“But again, this club I always support it, my kids will always support it. I love the club so much and I will always do. I called my mum yesterday, you guys didn’t know if I was going to stop or not but I knew.

“I called my mum and I told her to come to the Brighton game, it doesn’t matter if I play or not, I’m going to enjoy it.

“We’ll see what’s going to happen. But in my head I’m going to enjoy that game, if I play or not, if I’m on the bench or not because I don’t know what’s going to happen now.

“I’m just going to be in Anfield, say goodbye to the fans, go to the Africa Cup (of Nations) because I don’t know what’s going to happen when I’m there.”

What do you know of the situation now?

“It’s not acceptable for me to be fair. I don’t know why that happened always to me. I don’t get it. I think if I’m somewhere else, every club will protect its player. I don’t know why I’m in this situation now but again, how I see it now, it’s like you throw Mo under the bus because he’s a problem in the team now.

“But I don’t think I’m the problem. I have done so much for this club, with the respect I want to get, and I don’t have to go every day fighting for my position because I earn it. People will say, you are not bigger than (the club). I am not bigger than anyone, I earn my position. This is football. It is what it is.”

When you say that about the Brighton game, you mean that possibly it could be your last game, you’d consider your future in January perhaps?

“Yeah, in football you never know but I don’t accept the situation to be fair. Again I’ve done so much for this club.”

Is that what is so frustrating for you?

“Absolutely. Last season, I’m sorry with all the respect, I love everyone. I love (Erling) Haaland. I will talk about him because I think I know him a little bit. I’m the current top scorer in the Premier League. He’s not yet. He’s going to win it hopefully. It’s fine for him. I love him. He knows that. I’m a top scorer, best player, winning the league in such a style. I‘m the one who has to defend himself in front of the media and the fans, everyone.”

Does this hurt you Mo?

“Absolutely. For the club like this, what I’ve done for the club, yeah it does hurt. You can’t imagine really, after you’ve just gone from home to the club and you don’t know if you’re starting or not. But I know the club. I’m sorry, I know the club too well. I’ve been here many years. So tomorrow you’re going to find [Jamie] Carragher is going to go for me again, again, again. That’s fine.”

You had the interest from Saudi Arabia. Is that still on the table?

“Err, I don’t want to answer this question now because the club is going to take me to a different direction, so I don’t want to answer this one.”

Do you see this situation as impossible now with the club to solve? You’re standing here now…

“I can’t say it’s impossible but I can say from what I feel, I’ve done so much for the club and I love the fans so much and I love the club so much. I don’t know what’s going to happen next. I don’t know.”

Does it make it doubly frustrating that not only did you not start but you didn’t even go on in the whole match?

“Can you answer that? Can you believe it? I’ve been in this club scoring more than anyone in this generation I would say. Since I came to the Premier League I don’t think anyone has scored more goals than me or assists in the whole Premier League.

“And if I’m in somewhere else, everybody will go to the media and defend the players. I’m the only one who’s not in that situation. Can I give an example?

“It’s silly, I’m sorry, but I remember a while ago Harry Kane was not scoring for 10 games. Scored one or two goals. Everyone in the media, everybody in the media was like, ‘Oh Harry will score for sure’. When it comes to Mo, he needs to be on the bench.”

Are you disappointed by the team?

“…I’m sorry Harry. I’m sorry Harry Kane.”

When you say about someone wanting you out of the club, who would that be?

“I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know.”

The sporting director?

“Don’t put the word in my mouth. I don’t know. From the situation I see, that’s it.”

Mo, have you asked for anyone to sort of communicate and explain the situation to you? Have you actually asked for that?

“I did, I did, but I don’t see an explanation. Like I knew yesterday that I’m not going to play and that’s it. Take it and swallow it and go home.”

Were you told personally by Arne (Slot) that you weren’t going to be playing?

“Yeah, he told me yesterday.”

And you had a meeting?

“I had a meeting with him, yeah.”

Did you let your feelings be known then, that you were disappointed about that?

“He knows my feelings. He knows my feelings.”

Do you regret signing the contract to stay?

“Oh, imagine how bad that I have to answer it. Honestly, that’s hurt. Even the question hurt. This club, signing for this club, I will never regret it. I thought I’m going to renew here and end my career here, but this is not according to the plan. So I’m not going to, I’m not regretting signing for the club for sure.”

Mo, you’re one of the greatest players in Liverpool’s history. Can you believe it might end like this?

“Somehow it will end, but the thing in my head is like, why should it end this way? Because I’m too fit. Just five months ago, I was just winning every individual award. So why should it go this direction? And I’m sorry, everybody in the team is not in his form. But I’m the one who has been getting all the blame and has to defend himself now.”

Is the next step for you to speak with Arne again?

“No, I don’t think so. We spoke a lot, so nothing to speak about.”

Has your relationship broken down then?

“Yeah, there is no relationship between us. It was a very good relationship and now all of a sudden, there is no relationship.”

Something changed behind the scenes, like I can’t…

“You can answer it better than me. I don’t know.”

Do you feel let down from the teammates as well?

“No, no, no. These guys, they know how much I love them. They know how much I support them, even inside before the game, after the game. I’m an experienced player. I’ve been in their position. I always support them. I always give them experience, but no, no.

"The players have no… They didn’t…They are not connected to the situation at all. Even they support me so much. So, no. There’s just much love between us as players and respect.”