LONDON: Mohamed Salah was dropped from Liverpool’s squad for their Champions League tie away to Inter Milan following incendiary remarks about his relationship with manager Arne Slot and his treatment by the Premier League club.

The Egypt forward was not included in the squad announced by Liverpool on Monday, despite training earlier in the day with the first team.

Salah said on Saturday he felt like he had been “thrown under the bus” by Liverpool and that he no longer had a relationship with Slot after he was left on the bench for the third consecutive game in a 3-3 draw at Leeds United and not even introduced as a substitute, telling reporters that he had been made a scapegoat for their poor start to the season, as the champions sit ninth in the Premier League.

But several British media reports said Salah’s omission for Tuesday’s game in Italy was not for disciplinary reasons but rather a selection decision.

The BBC said his removal from the squad was taken with the full support of Slot.

It said that it is in the best interest of all parties involved for Salah to have a brief period away from selection given the nature and timing of the player’s public comments.

After next weekend’s home match against Brighton & Hove Albion, Salah is set to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Published in Dawn, December 9th, 2025