Salah Draws a Line: I Won’t Be a Bench Player at Liverpool
19 December 2025
The Egyptian star remains determined to play a major role in the Reds' squad.
Liverpool's management held initial talks with Mohamed Salah's agent, exposing a core crisis neither side has an easy answer to, even as the club wants to avoid the Salah file hogging headlines through January and February next year.
According to TEAMTALK, Salah reiterated during discussions with his camp that he refuses a substitute role—the one he has been forced into in recent matches—and he was left out of the Inter Milan tie in the Champions League after signaling what he saw as mistreatment by the coach and the club.
Ramy Abbas conveyed the same stance in meetings with the Reds' sporting director, Richard Hughes, with no change in the player's previously stated position, while Salah temporarily left Anfield to join the Egyptian squad for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Salah's Dilemma at Liverpool
Club sources say Salah's refusal to take any lesser role poses a real dilemma, especially since Liverpool has looked tougher defensively in his absence, while his 5 goals and 4 assists this season do not lend him indispensability.
Hughes continues negotiations with Salah's agent, backed by Fenway Sports Group, the club's owners, and CEO Michael Edwards, while confirming that Liverpool is open to the idea of Salah's departure if it serves the team's interests.
Stay tuned for further updates as talks continue behind closed doors and fans wait to see whether Salah remains a centerpiece or takes a step toward the exit.
Punchline 1: If Salah stays a starter, Klopp might finally discover that the bench is not just a place for coffee breaks — it’s where strategy grows.
Punchline 2: In football, transfer talks move faster than a sprint, and usually with more dramatic cliffhangers.
