Liverpool and Salah's future after his fiery comments

Mohamed Salah has cast serious uncertainty over his time at Liverpool by suggesting he is being unfairly blamed for the defending Premier League champions poor performance this term.

Following his substitution on the sidelines during the 3-3 stalemate against Leeds on Saturday, Salah unleashed a passionate rant to the press, revealing a fractured bond with manager Arne Slot.

This marked the third match in a row that the Egyptian forward had been omitted by Slot, who is grappling with a dismal streak of just four victories in 15 outings across all tournaments for the struggling Reds.

AFP Sport examines the origins of the rift between the Egyptian ace and his coach, along with potential paths forward for Salah and Liverpool:

Reasons behind Salah's exclusion?

A true icon at Liverpool, only a pair of players have netted more than Salah's 250 strikes for the club with 20 English titles.

Joining from Roma in 2017, Salah played a key part in securing two Premier League crowns, breaking a 30-year drought in 2020, plus the 2019 Champions League trophy.

In April, after shining brightly and guiding Liverpool to the championship in Slot's inaugural campaign last year, Salah earned a generous two-year extension.

This season, however, the 33-year-old has faltered, managing only five goals in 19 outings.

Having sat out Champions League clashes with Galatasaray and Eintracht Frankfurt, Salah featured in Liverpool's opening 12 league fixtures, but Slot's tolerance waned following a 3-0 loss at home to Nottingham Forest.

The club invested £300 million ($400 million) on attackers Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, and Alexander Isak during the summer window.

Even with sluggish beginnings from Wirtz and Isak, they seem poised as the Reds' long-term options, and Slot has focused on integrating them over recent days.

"I'm on the bench without understanding the reason. It feels like the club has sacrificed me. That's my sentiment. It is evident that somebody aimed to pin all the fault on me," Salah stated.

"I've often mentioned my solid rapport with the manager, yet abruptly, there's no connection. I am unsure of the cause, but from my view, it appears someone wishes to oust me from the team."

Potential developments?

Liverpool had anticipated Salah's temporary absence for the Africa Cup of Nations post this week's fixtures, including the away Champions League tie versus Inter Milan and the home league clash with Brighton.

Salah implied the Brighton encounter might be his final one at Anfield, should he play, and noted he arranged for his relatives to attend.

"I'll head to Anfield to bid farewell to supporters before the Africa Cup of Nations," he continued. "I'm uncertain about events during my absence."

Possible destinations?

Speculation about a transfer to the Saudi Pro League has persisted as Salah's likely move.

As a prominent figure in the Arab region, his arrival would mark yet another major acquisition for the Gulf nation.

With funding from the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, these teams stand among the few able to equal or surpass Salah's earnings as a top earner in the Premier League.

Liverpool would appreciate securing a hefty transfer sum after their substantial summer spending.

Implications for Slot?

Slot's goodwill from Liverpool fans for his stellar debut season was already eroding amid a sequence of merely two league triumphs in 10 matches.

His position remains secure for now, yet the board might intervene later if qualification for next year's Champions League hangs in the balance.

Despite a rocky beginning, Liverpool, positioned eighth, trail the top four by just two points.

Salah's remarks have intensified scrutiny on Slot, with numerous supporters likely backing the forward celebrated on the Kop as the "Egyptian King."