Anfield’s Unsettling Silence
Mohamed Salah’s legendary status at Liverpool has never been in doubt, but the ground beneath his feet is shaking. Following a run of poor form and three consecutive benchings in the Premier League, the Egyptian King unleashed an explosive post-match interview that accused the club of “throwing him under the bus” and confirmed a breakdown in his relationship with manager Arne Slot.
This sensational development has reignited the transfer rumour mill, with interest from the Saudi Pro League (SPL) and Major League Soccer (MLS) immediately ramping up. As the January transfer window looms, the question is no longer just if Salah will leave, but when a question that has massive implications for Liverpool’s season and the millions of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers who rely on the game’s most expensive asset.
The Heart of the Matter
Outbursts, Benchings, and Bids
The recent crisis stems from a run of games where Slot chose to start Salah on the bench. The forward’s emotional public comments, coupled with Slot’s swift decision to then drop him from the Champions League squad, have created an untenable atmosphere. The club’s attempt to spin the benching as a “simple selection decision” has failed to quell the intense speculation.
The transfer speculation is no longer a distant threat: The SPL, which previously saw Al-Ittihad fail with a whopping £150 million verbal offer, has had its CEO publicly endorse the potential arrival of the Liverpool star.
The American Bottom Line
FSG’s Corporate Shadow
To understand the current chaos, one must look past the training ground and into the boardroom. The corporate, data-driven stewardship of American owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) provides the essential context for this entire saga.
FSG’s financial model at Liverpool is rooted in self-sustainability and risk-averse spending. This ‘moneyball’ approach has long frustrated sections of the fanbase who feel the club prioritises profit over proactive, ambitious spending. This corporate philosophy was starkly exposed during Salah’s previous contract negotiations, which dragged on publicly for over a year.
It is widely reported that FSG’s initial approach was to let Salah, one of the world’s best attackers, run down his contract and potentially leave for free, a strategy designed to avoid breaking their wage structure for a player approaching his 30s.
However, the pressure from supporters was immense. Fans raised banners in the Kop demanding “Give Mo his dough,” and ultimately, Salah’s phenomenal form and the sheer necessity of keeping him forced FSG to deviate from their corporate strategy and sanction his £400,000-per-week deal in 2022. The current conflict is seen by many as a continuation of this fundamental friction: a world-class player demanding appreciation and guaranteed minutes, versus a profit-conscious ownership looking for the optimal time to cash in on an ageing, high-value asset.
The Legend’s Verdict
Carragher’s Scathing Attack vs. Gerrard’s Sympathy
The public spat has split opinion among Anfield legends, adding significant heat to the debate. The contrasting views of Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher perfectly encapsulate the dilemma facing the club.
Jamie Carragher: The Scathing Critic Jamie Carragher was merciless in his assessment, branding Salah’s interview “a disgrace.” The pundit suggested the outburst was a calculated, self-serving move, claiming that whenever Salah speaks publicly, “it’s choreographed with him and his agent to cause maximum damage and to strengthen his own position.” Carragher argued that Salah was being selfish, saying his comments were all about “me, me, me,” and even suggested the club should manage the situation by keeping him out of the squad entirely.
Steven Gerrard: The Voice of Mediation In stark contrast, Steven Gerrard offered a more sympathetic, yet firm, perspective. While Gerrard admitted that Salah was “wrong” to air his grievances publicly, he acknowledged and “respects” the player’s frustration and desire to play. He stressed that the club needs their star man back, urging reconciliation: “Liverpool Football Club needs Mo Salah back playing well, back scoring goals because he is the best player… and he will help them get out of this ‘crisis’ in my opinion.”
The FPL Angle
The Fall of an FPL God
For Fantasy Premier League managers, the uncertainty surrounding Mohamed Salah (£12.5m+) is reaching a critical peak. The danger is magnified when you consider his status is not just a premium asset, but arguably the greatest FPL asset in the game’s history.
Salah’s FPL Records and Dominance:
- All-Time Top Scorer:Salah holds the record for the highest points total in a single FPL season, hitting a mammoth 344 points in the 2024/25 campaign, surpassing his own previous record of 303 (2017/18).
- The 300-Point Barrier:He is the only player in FPL history to break the 300-point mark, having done it twice.
- Elite Consistency:Since joining Liverpool, he has averaged over 260 points per season, a figure that often places him among the top 10 historical single-season scores every year. He also holds the record for the most 200-point seasons (8) and the longest run of consecutive 200-point seasons (8).
The current transfer saga, combined with the looming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) deadline, introduces unprecedented risk to this FPL god:
- Price Drop Imminent:As one of the most highly-owned players, if the transfer talk intensifies, mass sales could cause a significant price drop, wiping out FPL value for those holding him.
- Minutes Risk:His public criticism and subsequent benching by Slot indicate his starting place is no longer guaranteed, even for the immediate future.
- The ‘Don’t Waste a Transfer’ Dilemma:The current risk is that you sell him to prepare for AFCON, only for him to be immediately transferred out of the Premier League in January, rendering the transfer used on his replacement a wasted move.
TFB’s FPL Verdict
The Time for Swift Action
Given the combustible situation, the FPL advice is clear: Sell Mohamed Salah now. Use one of your extra free transfers to move him on before the Gameweek 16 deadline. The risk of him being a no-show, either through continued benching or an early January transfer to Saudi Arabia, is too great to justify his £12.5m+ price tag, regardless of his incredible history.
Conclusion
No One Is Bigger Than The Club
The internal division at Anfield is stark, but the institutional philosophy remains unwavering. As the final whistle blows on this painful saga, the message from the club’s administration is clear and echoes through the decades: No one player, not even a legend, is bigger than the club.
Liverpool has a long and proven history of adapting, recovering, and returning to the pinnacle of the game following the departure of giants. From the emotionally charged sales of Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona, to the exits of icons like Luis Suárez and even club heroes who departed in years past, the institution has always found a way to win again. While Salah’s exit, whether in January or the summer, will undoubtedly create a vast void, the focus will swiftly shift to the manager and the team. The club is an institution that endures; players come and go. For Liverpool and Arne Slot, the mandate is simple: utilize the funds, rebuild, and prove that the team, the badge, and the future success of the club will always transcend the fame of any single individual.
