Mohamed Salah was instrumental in Liverpool’s Premier League title triumph last season and he’s up for another individual award
Liverpool star Mohamed Salah has been shortlisted for the BBC Sports Personality World Sport Star of the Year. The Egyptian has been nominated for the prestigious award, days after his bombshell interview.
Salah, 33, was named on the bench for the 3-3 draw against Leeds United, for the third successive match, where he was an unused substitute as Liverpool twice surrendered their lead. But the Liverpool icon’s comments have sparked a row after he claimed that he has been “thrown under the bus”.
It heaps further pressure on head coach Arne Slot, who has picked up just two league wins in September, as their title defence is all but over and they face three must-win games to ensure they avoid a playoff match and secure Champions League qualification.
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He has been joined by the likes of boxer Terence Crawford on the star-studded list and comes after his title-winning campaign, where he topped the charts for goals (29) and assists (18).
Revealing their shortlist, BBC wrote: “Salah, the ‘Egyptian King’, scored 29 Premier League goals and broke a host of records as he helped Liverpool to a record-equalling 20th top-flight title in the 2024-25 season.
“He became the first player to win the Golden Boot, the Playmaker award for most assists and the Premier League player of the season award in the same campaign. He was also named as the PFA men’s player of the year for a record third time and collected a third Football Writers’ footballer of the year award.
“The 33-year-old became the highest-scoring overseas player in Premier League history, overtaking Sergio Aguero’s mark of 184.
“Salah has scored five goals in 18 appearances for Liverpool so far this season, and on Saturday said he felt like he had been “thrown under the bus” by the club and that his relationship with head coach Arne Slot had broken down.”
However this season, Salah has struggled in an under-performing Liverpool side. They sit 10 points off pace-setters Arsenal and 10th in the Premier League table.
The Reds are unbeaten in their last three but squandered the opportunity to put pressure on in the race for Champions League football on Saturday, when they conceded in stoppage-time against Daniel Farke’s side.
Hugo Ekitike’s double handed Slot’s side a two-goal lead before a senseless challenge from Ibrahima Konate gifted Leeds an avenue back into the contest with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Anton Stach restoring parity.
Salah was forced to watch the collapse from the bench as he was snubbed from joining the attack to guide the Reds to victory. Dominik Szoboszlai put them back in front 10 minutes from time, however, in the sixth minute of stoppage time, a lapse from a corner allowed Ao Tanaka to salvage a point.
Despite being an unused substitute, Salah came out to speak to reporters in a rare interview as he slammed Liverpool to thrust his future in doubt. As a result of his outburst, he was left out of the squad to face Inter Milan in the Champion League on Tuesday.
“I don’t know what to say,” Salah said. “It’s kind of funny, I couldn’t believe it. It’s a disappointing result for us as a team. We conceded silly goals. I could not help my team-mates because I am on the bench.
“I could not believe I was sitting on the bench for 90 minutes. That’s the third time. It’s the first time in my career I think. I am very disappointed, I have done so much for this club over years, especially last season, It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus.
“That’s how I feel it. Someone wants me to get all the blame. The club promised me a lot in summer. Now I’m on bench so I can say they haven’t kept those promises.
“I used to have a good relationship (with Slot). Now we don’t have any relationship and I don’t know why. Seems like someone does not want me in the club. I called my mum and dad and told them to come to the Brighton game.
“It doesn’t matter if I play or not. I’m going to enjoy it. I am just going to be at Anfield and say goodbye to the fans before the African Cup of Nations, because I don’t know what is going to happen when I am there.
“It’s not acceptable to me to be fair. If I was somewhere else, every club would protect its players. Now it’s: ‘Throw Mo under the bus because he is a problem in a team’.
“I don’t think I am a problem. I am not fighting for my position every day because I have earned it. I am not bigger than the club. I am not bigger than anything. But I have earned it.”
