Ex Liverpool defender Glen Johnson backs Arne Slot and explains Mohamed Salah outburst

Former Liverpool right-back Glen Johnson believes manager Arne Slot and Mohamed Salah must have had “many arguments” behind the scenes before the Egyptian finally erupted with his recent explosive comments.

Salah, 33, stayed on the bench and did not play in Liverpool’s 3-3 draw with Leeds United, the third match in a row he was left out of the starting XI, before venting his anger publicly and shaking the club.

Johnson told the Liverpool Echo that the decision to drop Salah for the crucial Inter Milan Champions League clash is tough but also about respect, stressing that just because Slot seems kind and open does not mean he is weak. In his view, the coach had to act and send a strong message to the dressing room, precisely because the player involved is Salah and not a lesser name.

The ex-defender argued that Salah’s explosion cannot be a momentary reaction and must be the result of a long breakdown in the relationship. He said reduced playing time usually reflects a damaged bond with the manager, adding that players often argue or knock on the coach’s door repeatedly before anything spills into the media. Everyone, he noted, has played under managers they do not like but still must do their job, because a player is “not there to be the coach’s friend”.

Johnson concluded that Salah and Slot have probably clashed many times already and going public was their last resort, not the first option. For him, Slot’s stance proves he is not soft, while Salah’s public anger shows deep, long-standing frustrations rather than a random outburst.