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Mohamed Salah plunged his future at Liverpool into serious doubt after claiming he had been made the fall guy for the Premier League champions’ disastrous form this season.

In an explosive outburst, Salah spoke to reporters after being left on the bench for Saturday’s 3-3 draw at Leeds, dropping a bombshell accusation that his relationship with Reds manager Arne Slot is broken.

It was the third consecutive game the Egyptian had been axed by Slot, who is struggling for solutions to a run of four wins in 15 games in all competitions for troubled Liverpool.

AFP Sport looks at how the breakdown between the Egypt star and his manager developed and what comes next for both Salah and Liverpool:

Why was Salah dropped?

An undoubted Liverpool legend, only two players have scored more than Salah’s 250 goals for the 20-time English champions.

Salah, who arrived at Anfield from Roma in 2017, was fundamental to two Premier League title triumphs, ending a 30-year wait to become champions in 2020, and winning the Champions League in 2019.

In April, as he played a starring role and led Liverpool to the title in Slot’s debut year last season, Salah was rewarded with a lucrative new two-year contract.

Salah has struggled to match those heights this season, scoring just five times in 19 appearances.

The 33-year-old, who was dropped for Champions League fixtures against Galatasaray and Eintracht Frankfurt, started all of Liverpool’s first 12 league games, but Slot’s patience ran out after a 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Liverpool spent £300 million ($400 million) on forwards Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak in the summer transfer window.

Despite slow starts for Wirtz and Isak, they appear the future for the Reds and Slot has prioritised trying to get them up to speed over the past week.

“I’m sitting on the bench and I don’t know why. It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That’s how I am feeling. I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame,” Salah said.

“I said many times before that I had a good relationship with the manager and all of a sudden, we don’t have any relationship. I don’t know why, but it seems to me, how I see it, that someone doesn’t want me in the club.”

What happens next?

Liverpool were already planning for life without Salah in the short-term as he departs for the Africa Cup of Nations after this week’s matches away to Inter Milan in the Champions League and at home to Brighton.

Salah hinted the Brighton game could be his last at Anfield, if selected, and that he had instructed his family to fly in to witness it.

“I will be in Anfield to say goodbye to the fans and go to Africa Cup of Nations,” he added. “I don’t know what is going to happen when I am there.”

Where could he go?

A move to the Saudi Pro League has long been rumoured as Salah’s next destination.

An icon in the Arab world, his signing would represent another coup for the Gulf state.

The riches of clubs backed by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund means they are one of the few options that can match or even improve Salah’s current salary as one of the Premier League’s highest-paid players.

Liverpool would also welcome the chance to bank a significant transfer fee after their huge summer outlay.

What does it mean for Slot?

Slot’s credit among the Liverpool support for an amazing first season in charge was already diminishing after a run of just two wins in 10 league games.

His job is not in immediate danger, but the Liverpool hierarchy may be forced to act later in the season if their place in next season’s Champions League is at risk.

Despite a dreadful start, Liverpool, who sit eighth in the table, are only two points outside the top four.

Mohamed Salah took aim at Liverpool manager Arne Slot in an astonishing rant that could spell the end of his legendary career at Anfield after claiming he has been “thrown under the bus” during the Premier League champions’ slump in form.

The Egyptian was left on the bench for the third consecutive game in Saturday’s 3-3 draw at Leeds and was not even introduced as a substitute by Slot.

After next weekend’s home match against Brighton, Salah is set to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and hinted that could be his final appearance in a Liverpool shirt should he be selected.

“I’m very, very disappointed. I have done so much for this club down the years and especially last season,” Salah told reporters in the mixed zone at Elland Road.

“Now I’m sitting on the bench and I don’t know why. It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That is how I am feeling. I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame.

“I got a lot of promises in the summer and so far I am in the bench for three games, so I can’t say they keep the promise. I said many times before that I had a good relationship with the manager and all of a sudden, we don’t have any relationship. I don’t know why, but it seems to me, how I see it, that someone doesn’t want me in the club.

“This club, I always support it. My kids will always support it. I love the club so much, I will always do. I called my mum yesterday — you guys didn’t know if I would start or not, but I knew.

“Yesterday I said to (my parents), ‘Come to the Brighton game.’ I don’t know if I am going to play or not but I am going to enjoy it.

“In my head, I’m going to enjoy that game because I don’t know what is going to happen now. I will be at Anfield to say goodbye to the fans and go the Africa cup. I don’t know what is going to happen when I am there.”

READ ALSO: Liverpool Blow Two-Goal Lead As Leeds Fightback In 3-3 Draw

 Saudi speculation

Salah is Liverpool’s third highest goalscorer of all time with 250 goals in 420 appearances, winning two Premier League titles and the Champions League since joining from Roma in 2017.

However, he has been a shadow of his former self during Liverpool’s struggles this season.

Slot’s men have won just two of their last 10 Premier League games to slip to eighth in the table.

Salah has scored just five times in 19 appearances this season but had been a regular starter until last weekend’s 2-0 win at West Ham.

The 33-year-old was introduced off the bench during Wednesday’s 1-1 draw against Sunderland but to little effect.

Slot defended his decision to leave Salah on the bench at Elland Road as Liverpool led for the majority of the second half before conceding a stoppage time equaliser.

“It was more about controlling the game [at 3-2] and we didn’t need a goal,” said Slot.

“Normally when you need a goal, like last week against Sunderland, I brought Mo on.”

Salah has long since attracted interest from the Saudi Pro League and the Gulf could offer his most likely escape route from Anfield during the January transfer window.

He signed a lucrative new two-year contract in April after his starring role in guiding Liverpool to a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title.

Lionel Messi inspired Inter Miami to their first ever MLS Cup title on Saturday, playing a leading role in a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps in Florida.

READ ALSO: Messi Leads Miami Into MLS Playoff Matchup With Cincinnati

Argentina superstar Messi provided assists for two goals and helped create another to spark wild celebrations before a rapturous home crowd at the Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.

Liverpool’s latest sorry collapse to draw 3-3 at struggling Leeds on Saturday shone the spotlight on manager Arne Slot’s inability to summon a response from a side that was crowned Premier League champions just months ago.

Failure to hold onto a 2-0 and 3-2 lead at Elland Road means the Reds have won just two of their last 10 league games to tumble down to eighth in the table and realistically end their hopes of defending the title well before Christmas.

A £450 million ($600 million) summer spend in the transfer window was designed to herald in a new era of dominance at Anfield.

Instead, Slot’s squad has been unbalanced by a summer of major change and the impact of the tragic death of forward Diogo Jota in a car accident in July.

Over £200 million was splashed out on Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz for the return of just one Premier League goal between them so far, while full-backs Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong have failed to replicate the outstanding performances of Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold in recent years.

It was the one major signing Liverpool failed to get over the line that could turn out to be the most impactful in their season.

England centre-back Marc Guehi appeared on his way to Anfield from Crystal Palace on deadline day until the deal collapsed.

As Guehi has enjoyed a stellar season for club and country, Ibrahima Konate’s woeful form has been fundamental to Liverpool’s decline.

Hugo Ekitike – the one new signing to so far deliver on his potential – had put Slot’s side in a commanding position with a quickfire double at the start of the second half.

Yet, Konate gifted Leeds a route back into the game with a needless lunge on Willy Gnonto as the ball was running out to concede a penalty.

Within seconds, Liverpool’s comfortable cushion was wiped out as, roared on by a vociferous home crowd, Leeds build on their momentum to equalise through Anton Stach.

“Konate’s decision for the penalty was just unbelievable,” said former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp.

READ ALSO: Liverpool Blow Two-Goal Lead As Leeds Fightback In 3-3 Draw

Game-changing errors 

“Liverpool were cruising, everything was calm, and he decides to run out and commit one of the more reckless decisions to get Leeds back in the game.”

Slot’s options have not been aided by a serious knee injury suffered by Italian centre-back Giovanni Leoni on his debut in September.

But his decision to keep faith with Konate despite repeated game-changing errors is becoming a stick to beat the Dutchman with.

At the other end of the field, Slot has not shied away from a major call.

The difficulties of new arrivals adjusting to the demands at Anfield has been exacerbated by a loss of form for Liverpool’s two titans of the past decade in Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah.

Both signed highly-lucrative two-year contracts at the end of last season after their roles in delivering a 20th English top-flight title.

But for the third consecutive game Salah was left on the bench and was not even introduced as a substitute.

After next weekend’s clash at home to Brighton, the Egyptian will depart for up to a month for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Slot defended his decision not to call on Salah due to the fact Liverpool had a lead to protect rather than chasing a goal in the closing stages.

The former Feyenoord boss will have to find a solution to his side’s slump without Salah in the coming weeks.

But doubts now linger over both the future of the Liverpool boss and the club’s third highest goalscorer of all time heading into 2026.

Liverpool suffered another embarrassing capitulation to ramp up the pressure on manager Arne Slot as Leeds twice hit back to salvage a thrilling 3-3 draw on Saturday.

The Reds led 2-0 and 3-2 thanks to Hugo Ekitike’s quickfire double and Dominik Szoboszlai’s strike but still failed to see the game out as they failed to win for the eighth time in their last 10 league games.

Slot’s faith in Ibrahima Konate will again by questioned after the French centre-back conceded a penalty that began the Leeds fightback.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s spot-kick and Anton Stach levelled before Szoboszlai quickly restored Liverpool’s lead.

But deep into stoppage time, Liverpool failed to deal with a corner and Ao Tanaka was unmarked at the back post to blast in.

READ ALSO: Arsenal Will Bounce Back From Aston Villa Blow, Says Arteta

A point leaves Liverpool languishing in eighth in the table and showing no signs of arresting an alarming slide since they clinched a record-equalling 20th title last season.

Slot showed his faith in Ekitike as he was preferred to record signing Alexander Isak up front, with Mohamed Salah also left on the bench for the third consecutive game.

Leeds had been buoyed by their impressive 3-1 win over Chelsea in midweek that dispelled doubts over Daniel Farke’s future and another valuable point edges them three points clear of the relegation zone.

Curtis Jones came closest to breaking the deadlock in a goalless first half with a curling effort that came back off the crossbar.

Leeds were architects of their own downfall early in the second period as Ekitike pounced on a loose pass by Joe Rodon to calmly slot past Lucas Perri.

The former Eintracht Frankfurt forward then threw himself at Conor Bradley’s low cross and got fortunate as Perri’s attempted clearance rebounded in off Ekitike.

Ekitike has been the only one of Liverpool’s big money signings during a near £450 million spent in the transfer window to so far deliver on his potential.

The Frenchman now has eight goals for the Reds despite seeing his game time impacted since Isak’s return to fitness.

Yet, Leeds were handed a lifeline by shoddy defending at the other end.

Konate’s woeful form has been a recurring feature of Liverpool’s decline this season.

He needlessly dived in to bring down Willy Gnonto on the by-line and Leeds were eventually awarded a penalty after a VAR review 17 minutes from time.

Calvert-Lewin smashed home the spot-kick and within seconds Leeds were level.

Stach was afforded far too much room inside the Liverpool penalty area before wrong-footing Alisson Becker with a powerful drive into the top corner.

However, Leeds got ahead of themselves in the pursuit of a winner as the visitors hit straight back when Szoboszlai latched onto Alexis Mac Allister’s clever dummy to slot into the far corner.

The Indoor Sports Hall of the National Institute of Sports, Surulere, Lagos, erupted in celebration as the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) teams — Safety Shooters and Safety Babes — were crowned champions of the Ardova Handball Premier League 2025, capping off a thrilling season witnessed by board members of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) and top executives of Ardova PLC.

The curtain came down on months of intense competition that began with the first phase in Benin City before the concluding phase in Lagos.

Speaking during the finale, the Executive Chairman of Ardova PLC,  Abdulwasiu Sowami, represented by the Deputy Managing Director, . Abiola Babatunde-Ojo, described the league as “delightful to watch” and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to the development of handball in Nigeria.

READ ALSO: Arsenal Will Bounce Back From Aston Villa Blow, Says Arteta

Safety Shooters Claim First Men’s Title in Five Years

It was a historic outing for Safety Shooters as they clinched the men’s championship for the first time since 2020, closing the season at the top of the table with 57 points from 20 matches.

They ended their campaign in emphatic style with a 43–32 (20–10) victory over COAS Shooters on the final day — a result that crowned a dominant season featuring:

18 wins

1 draw

1 loss

Goal difference: +214 (638 scored, 424 conceded)

Rima Strikers, their biggest rivals through the season, finished second with 52 points after a narrow 27–26 loss to Correction Boys.
COAS Shooters secured third place with 51 points, despite falling to Safety Shooters on the final day.

Other men’s final-day results:

De Defenders 31–23 Osun United

Niger United 27–28 Tojemarine Academy

Benue Buffaloes 10–00 Adamawa Warriors (walkover)

Safety Babes Make Unprecedented History With Fifth Straight Women’s Title

In the women’s category, Safety Babes delivered yet another masterclass, securing their fifth consecutive championship with a 27–24 (11–14) comeback victory over second-placed Rima Queens.

After trailing at halftime, the defending champions displayed exceptional grit and tactical discipline to overturn the deficit and seal their sixth overall premier league title.

Their season stats underline their dominance:

13 wins from 14 matches

40 points

Goal difference: +128 (486 scored, 358 conceded)

Rima Queens finished second with 31 points, while Omo Ogiefo Academy claimed third place with 32 points after an impressive campaign.

Women’s final-day result:

Rima Queens 24–27 Safety Babes

HFN, Ardova PLC Pledge Continued Partnership

The league’s closing ceremony celebrated not only the champions but also the growth of Nigerian handball.

HFN President, Jibril Ojih (FNSQ), praised Ardova PLC for its longstanding support and appealed for an extended partnership — a request Ardova executives committed to uphold.