Salah vs Slot is different from Ronaldo vs Ten Hag – but who’s to blame?
Mohamed Salah, Arne Slot, Erik ten Hag, and Cristiano Ronaldo (Photo by Julian Finney, Steve Bardens/Getty Images)
Liverpool’s manager Arne Slot and star player Mohamed Salah have experienced a very public dispute, which has inevitably led to comparisons with Cristiano Ronaldo’s notorious departure from Manchester United. Salah found himself omitted from the Liverpool squad facing Inter Milan on Tuesday night after his outburst following the Leeds United match on the weekend, which succeeded three consecutive games where he was benched by Slot. It appears increasingly likely that Salah will be exiting Anfield, with his future set to be determined following his participation in AFCON during the winter. Yet the question arises: should it be Salah who departs, or does Slot bear the responsibility?
How the Salah vs Slot row is different from Ronaldo vs Ten HagWhile there are notable similarities to Ronaldo’s infamous fallout with Erik ten Hag near the conclusion of his second term at Manchester United, there are also fundamental differences to consider. In Ronaldo’s case, United was dealing with an aging superstar whose role didn’t align with the fresh manager’s strategy. Ten Hag was new in his position, and while it may not have been prudent to confront such a prominent figure in the locker room, he faced pressure to instill his principles, which entailed planning for the future without a player who wouldn’t press or track back.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah in action (Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images)Despite a few bright moments under former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, it could still be said that re-signing Ronaldo disrupted the development of a promising squad that was in the works at Old Trafford. Thus, it was commendable for Ten Hag to exhibit that he was serious by focusing on the long-term success of his playing style.
In the case of Slot and Salah, the circumstances are entirely distinct—this is a player who just led the Reds to a Premier League title last season, clinching the Golden Boot and generally having one of his best seasons with the club. He was rewarded with a new contract prior to the summer, so it’s understandable that he questions his status as a key player only a few months later. However, does Slot also warrant some patience?
In defense of Slot, he isn’t Ten Hag, who experienced a disastrous run at United. Slot immediately secured a Premier League title in his debut season, and perhaps he deserves the opportunity to make a tough decision regarding Salah. The Dutch coach might have approached the situation differently, especially considering Salah’s contribution to the team’s triumph just months back. Even if the 33-year-old has not had a stellar start to the season, he is not the sole player deserving of being sidelined for a few games.
The perceived effort to single out Salah appears unjust and unnecessary. Ultimately, it is the manager’s role to make challenging decisions, and Salah could have managed his reaction more effectively. It is not uncommon for prominent players to sit out for a handful of matches before returning, and any coach should be able to enforce such decisions without fearing a major backlash. Salah’s public outburst has achieved little—if anything, it increases the likelihood that he will miss more games while further unsettling Slot at a time when he is already tasked with restoring morale in this faltering squad.
Published: 2025-12-17 16:38:00
source: www.caughtoffside.com
