Carragher and Micah Richards Clash as Debate Over Mohamed Salah Boils Over
- Jamie Carragher and Micah Richards had a brutal war of words on live TV over Mohamed Salah
- The Egyptian, 33, did not travel to Milan for Liverpool’s Champions League showdown with Inter Milan on Tuesday night
- Arne Slot supposedly decided to leave him out after Salah claimed he had been thrown under the bus
Jamie Carragher and Micah Richards offered sharply contrasting views after the former Liverpool centre-back criticised Mohamed Salah for publicly speaking out against Arne Slot following Liverpool’s 3-3 draw with Leeds United on December 6.
As is widely known, Salah was benched for the Leeds match, just as he had been in the two previous games, and was later omitted entirely from the squad for Liverpool’s Champions League clash against Inter on December 9.
Source: Getty Images
After the draw with Leeds, the Egyptian did not hold back when addressing reporters in the mixed zone.
He claimed he had been “thrown under the bus” during a difficult season for the Reds and added that he and head coach Arne Slot “don’t have a relationship,” further declaring that “someone doesn’t want me in the club.”
Watch Salah's interview below:
Unsurprisingly, Salah’s remarks drew strong reactions. Carragher branded the comments a “disgrace” during Monday Night Football ahead of Manchester United’s 4-1 win over Wolves on December 8.
“I think when he stops in the mixed zone, it’s choreographed with him and his agent to cause maximum damage and strengthen his own position,” the former Liverpool defender told Sky Sports.
The subject resurfaced during CBS Sports’ Champions League coverage, where Carragher and former Manchester City defender Richards debated the issue while Thierry Henry looked on.
Source: Getty Images
Richards argued that Salah should have been brought on against Leeds, while Carragher defended Slot’s decision, highlighting that Liverpool had been 2-0 up at one stage, which made a defensive substitution more logical than introducing Salah.
“Leeds come back to 2-2, the ball is in play for about three minutes before Liverpool score to make it 3-2…” Carragher explained. “There was a three-minute window between 2-2 and 3-2. You are not going to bring Mo Salah on when Liverpool are in front… he’s not going to run back for you.”
Richards fired back:
“You are talking about Mo Salah like he’s just any player… You are talking about one of the greatest players ever to grace the Premier League.”
Arsenal icon Henry, 48, then tried to defuse the situation by bizarrely giving Carragher a massage, per SunSports.
Carragher then suggested that many were ignoring the context surrounding Salah’s recent situations, arguing that the specific game situations justified Slot’s decisions.
The debate continued heatedly as the pair remained at odds, before Carragher closed by pointing out that Liverpool’s poor defensive spell - conceding ten goals across matches against Manchester City, Nottingham Forest and PSV - had coincided with Salah being on the pitch.
Watch Carragher and Richard's debate below:
Slot issues worrying Salah update
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that Arne Slot has admitted he has no idea whether Salah will ever wear a Liverpool shirt again, as tensions between the club and its long-serving talisman reach breaking point.
Salah was dramatically axed from Liverpool’s travelling squad for Tuesday night’s Champions League showdown against Inter Milan, just days after unleashing an explosive interview accusing the club of “throwing him under the bus.”
Proofreading by Omoleye Omoruyi, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
