Former Liverpool striker Stan Collymore has issued a stark reality check to Mohamed Salah, bluntly stating the Egyptian is 'not Lionel Messi', following a series of bombshell comments from the winger that have thrown his Anfield future into serious doubt.
Salah's Grenade Interview Sparks Crisis
The crisis erupted after Salah, relegated to the bench for Liverpool's last three matches including Saturday's 3-3 draw with Leeds United, gave an explosive interview. He claimed he had been 'thrown under the bus' by the club and revealed his relationship with manager Arne Slot had completely broken down. In a further dramatic twist, he disclosed his parents would attend the upcoming home match against Brighton to 'say goodbye' before he departs for the Africa Cup of Nations.
These statements, made just weeks before the January transfer window opens, have sent shockwaves through football and triggered intense speculation about a potential winter exit for the 31-year-old forward.
Collymore's Club-First Mantra
Weighing in with a lengthy analysis on social media platform X, Collymore framed the situation within the core ethos of Liverpool Football Club. "One thing remains constant," he wrote, "perhaps more than any other English club, it's always the club first and last." He argued that while players add their DNA, the institution ultimately trumps any individual, a principle he believes Salah is now challenging.
Collymore acknowledged Salah's legendary status at Anfield, placing him in the "pantheon of greats". However, he suggested the player's reaction to being benched—for what he described as a drop in form—showed a misguided sense of self-importance. "Mo maybe has almost tricked himself onto elevating himself to the untouchable status of Messi or Ronaldo," Collymore stated. "Mo isn't them, and Liverpool as I said, isn't that club either."
The Path to Resolution and Pundit Backlash
Collymore proposed a four-step solution to heal the "very open sore": a private talk between player and manager; Slot outlining his demands; Salah committing or requesting a transfer; and, if he stays, immediate reintegration into the team to be judged on performances alone. He also advised Slot to publicly affirm his value for Salah to prevent other senior players from airing grievances.
The former Reds star was not alone in his criticism. Pundit Chris Sutton delivered a more succinct but equally scathing assessment on X, labelling Salah's comments "embarrassing" and "disrespectful to his teammates and his manager." Sutton echoed Collymore's sentiment, asserting that "if a player's form drops as Salah's has he is the same as anyone else and has to accept being benched."
The unfolding drama presents the first major test of Arne Slot's man-management since his arrival, set against the backdrop of a tense Premier League title race. With the January window looming, Liverpool now face a critical period deciding how to handle their disgruntled superstar, whose actions have directly challenged the 'club-first' philosophy so fiercely defended by legends like Collymore.
