Mohamed Salah: Liverpool forward ‘thrown under the bus’

What were you thinking while sitting on the bench? “I don’t know what to say. It’s funny but I couldn’t believe it. It’s a really disappointing result for us as a team because we hope to win a game like this.”

“We managed to score two goals at the start and the game was going in our direction but we conceded ridiculous goals. I’m not attacking my teammates because I’m on the bench, but we conceded ridiculous goals like we did before. We just have to keep a clean sheet and try to win the games.”

What couldn’t you believe? “I’m sitting on the bench for 90 minutes! It’s the third time I’ve been on the bench, I think the first time in my career. To be fair, I’m very, very disappointed. “I’ve done so much for this club over the years, especially last season.

“I’m sitting on the bench now and I don’t know why. It looks like the club threw me under the bus. That’s how I feel. I think it’s clear that someone wants me to take all the blame.

“I made a lot of promises in the summer and I’ve been on the bench for three games so far, so I can’t say they’ve kept my promise.

“I have said many times before, I had a good relationship with the manager and suddenly we have no relationship at all. I don’t know why but it seems to me that someone does not want me at the club.

“I always support this club. My children will always support it too. I love the club very much. I will always support it. I called my mother yesterday, you didn’t know if I would start or not, but I knew.

“Yesterday I told them to come to the Brighton game. [on 13 December]. I don’t know if I will play it or not, but I will enjoy it. I’m going to enjoy this game in my head because I don’t know what’s going to happen now.

“I will be at Anfield to say goodbye to the fans and go to the Africa Cup of Nations. I don’t know what will happen when I get there.”

In this case, what will you do now? “It’s not acceptable to me. I don’t know why this is happening to me. I don’t understand. I think if this had happened anywhere else, every club would have protected their player. Now to me, you’re throwing Mo under the bus because he’s the team’s problem now. But I don’t think the problem is me. I’ve done a lot for this club.”

“I want to get the respect. I don’t have to fight for my position every day because I’ve earned it. I’m not bigger than anyone, but I’ve earned my position. This is football. That’s the way it is.”

Did you play your last match for Liverpool? “You never know in football. I do not accept this situation. I have done a lot for this club.”

How angry are you? “With all due respect, I love everyone. I love [Erling] Haaland, I’ll talk about him. I’m currently the Premier League’s top scorer. Not yet. I hope he wins and that’s a good thing for him. I love him and he knows it.

“I’m the top scorer, the best player and that’s how I win the league, but I’m the one who has to defend myself in front of the media and the fans.”

Does this make you sadder? “Absolutely. It really hurts after what I’ve done for the club. You can really imagine. After going from home to the club, you don’t know whether you’ll start or not. I know the club very well, I’ve been here for many years. Tomorrow [Jamie] Carragher will come after me again and again, and that’s okay.”

Saudi interest? “I don’t want to answer this question because the club will take me in a different direction.”

The situation that is now impossible to solve? “I can’t say it’s impossible, but from what I feel, I’ve done a lot for the club, I love the fans and the club, but I don’t know what will happen next.”

Is it twice as annoying that you don’t even show up? “I’m at this club, I score more goals than anyone in this generation, I don’t think anyone has scored more goals and made more assists than me since I came to the Premier League, in the whole Premier League. If I was anywhere else, everyone would go to the media and defend the players. I’m the only one in that situation.”

“I remember for a while, Harry Kane hadn’t scored for 10 games, everyone in the media was saying, ‘Oh, Harry’s definitely going to score’. As for Mo, everyone was saying, ‘He needs to stay on the bench’. Sorry Harry!”

When you say someone wants to take you out, who? “I don’t know. I don’t know. I really don’t know.”

Sports director? “No, no, don’t put the words in my mouth. That’s just how I understand it.”

Has someone contacted you and explained the situation? Did you really want this? “I did it. I did it but I can’t see an explanation. It’s like I knew yesterday I wasn’t going to play and that’s it, so take it, swallow it and go home.”

Were you personally told that you would not be playing alongside Arne? “Yes, he told me yesterday and had a meeting with her.”

Did you show your feelings then, were you disappointed? “He knows my feelings. He knows my feelings.”

Do you regret signing that contract? “Imagine how bad it is that I have to answer honestly. It hurts, even the question hurts. This club, signing for this club, I will never regret it. I thought I would renew here and end my career here, but it’s not according to plan, so I definitely don’t regret signing for the club.”

You are one of the greatest players in Liverpool history. Can you believe it could end like this? “It’s going to end one way or another, but the thing in my mind is why does it have to end this way? Because I’m in great shape. Just five months ago I was winning every award, why would it go that way?”

“I’m sorry that not everyone in the team is in shape, but I’m the one who needs to defend myself at the moment.”

Now the next step for you [speak with] Arne again? “No, I don’t think so. We talked too much.”

Has the relationship broken down? “Yes, there is no relationship between us. “It was a very good relationship, but now suddenly there is no relationship at all.”

Has anything changed behind the scenes? “You know better than I do. I don’t know.”

Do you feel like your teammates are also frustrated? “No, no, no. These guys know how much I love them. They know how much I support them, even inside before the game and after the game.

“I am an experienced player, I have been in their position. I always support them, I always give them experience. But no, no, the players are not connected to the situation. Even they support me a lot, so there is a lot of love and respect between us as players.”