Graeme Souness blames Mohamed Salah for Liverpool’s struggles and dressing-room unrest

Graeme Souness has launched his strongest criticism of Mohamed Salah since last winter’s dispute, claiming the Egyptian forward was chiefly responsible for Liverpool’s poor performances and faltering Premier League title defence.

The former Liverpool captain believes Salah created serious problems within the squad before the circumstances that led to the end of his Anfield era and growing speculation about a move to the Turkish league.

The events surrounding Salah’s disagreement with manager Arne Slot and Liverpool’s board remain deeply divisive among the club’s supporters. Some believe the player was justified in reacting angrily after being unexpectedly left out of the starting line-up last winter.

Others argue that Salah went too far and played the central role in damaging his relationship with the club.

Souness, one of the most influential voices in English football and a legendary Liverpool captain, has firmly adopted the latter view. His latest comments renew his criticism of Salah after the player’s controversial remarks following Liverpool’s match against Leeds United in December.

Speaking to the British newspaper Daily Star, Souness said: “The main reason Liverpool did not perform well last year was Mohamed Salah. I think he caused real problems within the team.”

He also questioned Salah’s contribution on the pitch, referring to Liverpool’s match against Crystal Palace in the Community Shield.

“I saw him in the Community Shield match against Crystal Palace, and he was not really involved in the game,” Souness said. “At first, I thought he might have been suffering from a problem, or that he had not completed a full pre-season. But that is how he ended up throughout last season. He was never at his best.”

Souness’s criticism extended beyond Salah’s performances. He said the forward’s reaction to being dropped had unsettled the squad and contributed to tension inside the dressing room.

“He then caused a great deal of disruption within the team when he was left out,” Souness added. “The comments he made after the Leeds match, when he passed through the press area and felt that he had been abandoned, were the final blow to the stability.”

The remarks are likely to reignite debate among Liverpool fans over the circumstances surrounding Salah’s departure from Anfield and discussion of his move to Turkish football, where he is described as a Trabzon player.

The dispute has divided supporters between those defending the club’s long-serving star and all-time leading Premier League scorer, and those who agree with the former captain’s view that the team’s interests must come before any individual, regardless of their status.