Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher has emphatically refused to back down from his fierce criticism of Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah, reiterating his belief that the Egyptian's recent bombshell interview was a 'disgrace'.
Carragher's Unwavering Stance on Salah's Comments
The controversy stems from Salah's comments to journalists following Liverpool's thrilling 3-3 Premier League draw with Leeds United at Elland Road. In that interview, the 32-year-old claimed he no longer shared a bond with manager Arne Slot and accused the club of throwing him 'under the bus' after being dropped for three consecutive matches.
Carragher, a Liverpool legend, immediately suggested the comments were a calculated move designed to undermine Slot. "I thought it was a disgrace what he did after the game," Carragher stated. "Some people have painted it as an emotional outburst, I don't think it was."
He argued that Salah's rare stops in the 'mixed zone' for interviews are always strategic. "Whenever Mo Salah stops in a mixed zone, which he's done four times in eight years at Liverpool, it's choreographed with him and his agent to cause maximum damage and strengthen his own position," Carragher added.
No Regrets as Transfer Speculation Intensifies
Speaking later on the Stick to Football podcast, Carragher was asked if he would have done anything differently. His response was blunt: "No." He explained that the story was unavoidable, especially with Liverpool involved in Champions League action and Salah omitted from the squad for the victory against Inter Milan.
"I kept going because I kept getting asked questions about it," he said. "It was the biggest story in town for seven to ten days. I wouldn't take anything back." When pressed on whether the term 'disgrace' was excessive, he simply reaffirmed: "It was a disgrace."
Carragher also defended manager Arne Slot's handling of the situation, contrasting it with the fallout from Salah's public critique. "We always talk about a manager should never criticise his players in public," he noted. "Can you imagine if Slot had said about Salah after the Leeds game, 'he's been awful all season'? We would have gone, 'oh my god you can't say this'. But on the other hand, there's people defending the interview?"
January Exit Now a Real Possibility
The saga has inevitably fuelled intense speculation about Salah's future at Anfield. Carragher believes a January departure is now a distinct possibility. "I think if Liverpool get the money that they want, they probably will," he admitted. "I think they'll think they don't want the hassle."
Despite the bitter fallout, Carragher expressed a desire for a more positive conclusion. "I'd love him to stay and I think he can have a better send-off and have an impact between now and the end of the season," he concluded. Salah's recent substitute appearance in the win over Brighton & Hove Albion could yet prove to be his final act for the Merseyside club, with his next outing not expected until January due to international duty.
