Premier League legend Alan Shearer has claimed Mohamed Salah felt compelled to perform after coming off the bench for Liverpool in their final match before his international departure.
Salah's impactful cameo at Anfield
The Egyptian forward made a significant impact as a substitute in Liverpool's 2-0 Premier League victory over Brighton at Anfield last weekend. This marked his final club appearance before joining the Egypt national team for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
Despite starting the match on the bench, Salah entered the fray and delivered what observers described as a sharp and energetic performance, although he missed a scoring chance. His involvement followed a period of tension after he was omitted from the squad for the Champions League clash against Inter Milan.
The backdrop of controversy
The decision to bench Salah came after the 33-year-old gave a controversial media interview in which he claimed he had been "thrown under the bus" by the club. This outburst was reportedly triggered by manager Arne Slot leaving him out of the starting lineup for three consecutive matches, including the recent draw with Leeds United.
Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast alongside Gary Lineker and Micah Richards, Shearer was asked if the positive cameo had defused the situation surrounding Salah's future at Liverpool.
Shearer and Richards weigh in
"I don't know, what I do know is that he's going away for four or five weeks, which will, maybe, calm the situation," Shearer stated, referencing Salah's imminent AFCON duty with Egypt.
"There are so many different ways you could look at it, both positive and negative, but we'd only be guessing. So I don't think we should do that."
Micah Richards supported this view, praising Slot's handling of the delicate matter. "I think Slot dealt with the whole situation very well," Richards said. "Even when he could have thrown Salah under the bus, he didn't. Salah's had an outburst, and all top players have egos."
Richards added, "It was nice that he got on and the most important thing [was] he looked sharp when he went on. He should have scored."
Shearer then interjected with a pointed remark: "I don't think he had a choice, by the way. He had to, didn't he?"
Pressed by Lineker to explain, the Newcastle icon elaborated: "He [Salah] had to come on and do well, after what he said. And then [being] put back in the squad, he had to run around, and he had to do well. I know he missed a chance."
Looking ahead for Liverpool
Salah has since departed for the Africa Cup of Nations, posting a social media graphic highlighting his remarkable scoring record for Liverpool as a parting message. His absence begins with Liverpool's crucial Premier League fixture against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
The coming weeks will test Liverpool's squad depth and offer a pause in the Salah narrative, with all eyes on Egypt's progress in the tournament and the eventual reunion at Anfield in the new year.
