‘He’s thinking about himself’ – Glenn Hoddle blasts Mohammed Salah, Owen Hargreaves says unsettled Liverpool forward is a ‘scapegoat’

Manager Arne Slot responded by leaving Salah behind for the midweek Champions League trip to Internazionale, and there is little expectation that he will feature for the club before the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

That has led to speculation that the Egyptian international may have played his last match for Liverpool, amid rumours of renewed interest from Saudi Pro League clubs.

Speaking on TNT Sports, Hargreaves says he believed it was the right decision to leave Salah out of Liverpool’s game at Inter on Tuesday night.

“Definitely (the right thing for Salah not to travel with Liverpool),” Hargreaves said. “I love Mo Salah, he’s been the best we’ve had.

Salah ‘not trying to disrespect anyone’ with explosive comments – Alisson

Video credit: SNTV

“But when you say something like that, the manager and the club need to kind of do something, maybe give him a breather and the club a breather. The most important thing is that the football club has success. It’s not about one individual.

“I just think it’s a shame when all this stuff gets out. Really, when a team is having pressure and struggling, you have to keep this stuff in the dressing room and not let it out, because then people feed off the frenzy.”

Hoddle said that the comments should have been made in private rather than to the press, and the former England manager suggested that Salah had been selfish at a time when Liverpool are struggling for their best form.

Hoddle explained: “It should have been done privately. He’s a wonderful player, and he’s been fantastic for Liverpool.

“Liverpool also, the form that they’re in, the most important thing is they get a result under their belt. He’s not thinking about the club, he’s thinking about himself.

“It’s the right decision. What happens from there on, if the manager thinks the team are going to get a really good win, that’s going to be a really good point to say we can go and win without you, Mo.

“At the end of the day, it’s the right decision, and I do hope Liverpool get a result, I’ve got to say.”

Hargreaves added that he did not think that Salah’s points were without merit, pointing out that there are problems in defence, midfield and attack.

“I do think he had a bit of a point,” Hargreaves argued. “I don’t think he’s their biggest issue. He’s been a little bit of a fall guy.

“Defensively, they’re conceding far too many goals. They’ve got a lot of issues, with the full-backs, the balance in midfield, integrating all these attacking players.

“He’s been the guy they’ve dropped. (Ibrahima) Konate hasn’t been dropped, (Cody) Gakpo hasn’t been dropped. He’s been the one who’s been dropped, and I do agree with him. I do think it’s been harsh, but when you’re the biggest guy you get the most attention.”

Hoddle agreed, and said that Slot’s men were no longer working hard enough, and suggested that the new players had not carried on the good work of the title-winning 2024/25 campaign.

“I think it’s the bigger picture for Liverpool,” Hoddle said. “I think they’ve stopped working defensively, as a team. They’re not pressing like they used to press. All the players who’ve come in are all offensive players.

“So they want to settle in, they want to show their manager, the fans, their team-mates, how they can play on the ball. They’ve forgotten about the pressing.”