Gary Neville says he sympathizes with both Mohamed Salah and Liverpool amid their current dispute, comparing the situation to Cristiano Ronaldo’s ugly exit from Manchester United in 2022.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot held talks with Salah on Friday to determine whether the striker would play against Brighton on Saturday, his last chance to play for Liverpool this year before he travels to the AFCON with Egypt.
It has been decided that Salah will be in the squad to play the Seagulls. He had been on the bench for three consecutive games and was then left out of Liverpool’s squad for midweek’s Champions League clash at Inter Milan after his bombshell interview last Saturday put his future at the club in doubt.
Salah vented his frustrations at being left out by Slot following the 3-3 draw at Leeds, where he was an unused substitute.
Three years ago, Ronaldo left United for the second time after hitting out at the club’s standards and criticizing then boss Erik ten Hag.
Neville understands why Liverpool supporters will have been upset by Salah’s behaviour, especially amid their poor run of form, but says the players’ star status cannot be overlooked – and Salah has deserved more playing time in recent weeks.
“I see it from both sides,” he shared Sky Sports news.
“I wouldn’t see it from an ordinary player’s point of view. But when you have this level of player, which is almost the best in the world, which I would put Mo Salah up there with, sometimes you don’t have to… accept what he has done because Cristiano Ronaldo did it [at United] and I didn’t take it too kindly at all because I think those players have an expectation to bring everyone along with them.
“But it’s not unusual behavior for a player of that level of quality and talent. They often have a different view of things.
“It’s easy for me when it’s at Liverpool because I can sit back and relax a bit. I wouldn’t like it if it was at my club Manchester United and I didn’t a few years ago when Cristiano did it and he went and did the big interview.
“I thought it was wrong, I thought the timing was wrong and the way it was delivered was wrong, so I can see why Liverpool fans would be upset.
“But I played the game [against Leeds]I thought [Salah] should have come on the field, I said so in the comments section.
“I can see why he was upset, but I can also see it from Liverpool’s perspective – they feel let down and that he has put a lot of attention on them that was not needed at a moment of challenge and difficulty.”
“If it was a player who didn’t have the level of talent, experience or success of Mo Salah, I think they would be kicked out pretty quickly,” Neville continued.
“But when you are so unique and so talented and have the presence of a great player, you don’t accept to be put on the bench and not be put on.
“I played with players who were exactly the same and left the club as soon as that was the case.”
Castle: I have no reason not to want Salah to stay
Asked about his personal wish for Salah’s future at Anfield, Slot also clarified the decision-making process behind leaving Salah out of Tuesday’s win in Milan, which was made jointly between himself and the club.
He said: “[Who decides] if he is in the squad, yes or no? We have decided as a club, I was part of that decision not to take Mo to Inter Milan.
“I’m always in conversation [with the Liverpool board]but when it comes to the decision-making of the squad or the lineup, it is always left to me.
“That doesn’t mean I don’t talk to Richard [Hughes]. I talk to Richard about a lot of things. But playing a player is entirely up to me.”
Asked specifically if he wanted Salah to stay, Slot replied: “I have no reasons not to want him to stay. This club has won a lot of games with him.”
‘Slot takes the heat out of a drama he could have done without’
SSN reporter Vinny O’Connor at AXA training center:
“‘I have no reasons not to have him stay here,’ was as far as Arne Slot would go regarding his current position on the Mo Salah situation.
“And there is evidence to support that in the actions Slot are planning to take. Why else would he meet with Salah today after various conversations between the player’s representatives, the club and Slot themselves.
“If the manager was ready to throw Salah aside, there would be no need for a further conversation.
“Where Castle stopped was by refusing to reveal whether he needed an apology from Salah.
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Former Liverpool defender Dietmar Hamann criticizes Mo Salah for going public with his displeasure.
“The underlying theme of the news conference seemed to be a manager trying to take the heat out of a drama he could have done without. That heat will die down further with Salah to the AFCON once the Brighton game is out of the way.
“Salah was on the training pitch as usual today and regardless of what happens this weekend, Liverpool will be without him until January at least.
“When Castle say they don’t want him to go, what will Salah do to make sure it doesn’t become a permanent arrangement?”
Merse: Liverpool owe trophy debt to Salah
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Paul Merson is standing by Mohamed Salah after his explosive interview – in which he took aim at Arne Slot – led to him being left out of Liverpool’s squad for the win over Inter Milan.
Paul Merson has defended Mohamed Salah following his claims Liverpool have “thrown him under the bus”, suggesting the club’s trophy cabinet would be much emptier without the Egyptian.
“I’m on Mo Salah’s side. I think he’s been given too much stick.
“Maybe he shouldn’t have done what he did, but he’s human. He’s a winner. He’s a legend. The numbers he’s put up on the wing – goals and assists – are off the charts. We’ll never see that again in my opinion.
“All he’s done is say he wants to play football. He’s got the hump because he doesn’t play. How could you get slaughtered for that?
“There are other players in the team who could have been dropped and he’s probably thinking ‘we’re not very good and I’m not playing’. I just think it’s wrong.
“Liverpool wouldn’t have won anything if it wasn’t for Mo Salah. You take away his goals and assists and I don’t think there are any trophies in that cabinet for a while.”