Mo Salah’s public Arne Slot row and how Liverpool legend reached point of no return

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All good things come to an end. And as we reflect on Mohamed Salah's remarkable Premier League career, the Egyptian superstar and Liverpool have been a very, very good thing.

In a few weeks time, the 33-year-old will go out in a blaze of glory after nine incredible years on Merseyside . Salah will depart Anfield in third place in the club's all-time record goalscorer list and as the player with the most goal contributions (281) in Premier League history.

While Salah has been the epitome of consistency across his time at Liverpool, the 2025-26 campaign has been a challenging one for the Reds' talisman - and his exit should perhaps not come as a total shock.

After all, there have been signs that Salah and Liverpool could part ways in recent months, most notably when the attacker went nuclear in an explosive mixed zone interview back in December. Here is the story of Salah's exit and how it played out...

Let's not forget, Salah only signed a new two-year contract around 12 months ago. But prior to putting pen to paper, there were plenty of teases that he could be on the move.

"No matter what happens, I will never forget what scoring at Anfield feels like," Salah posted on social media as he entered the final months of his deal. A few months prior after beating Manchester United , Salah stressed that he was in his "last year" with the club.

These cryptic comments coincided with strong interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia as fears over Salah's future grew...

Despite teases and transfer speculation, a new contract did happen. Last April, Salah and Liverpool agreed fresh terms and the former AS Roma and Chelsea man put pen to paper.

He followed it up by winning the Premier League just a few weeks later following a stunning individual campaign. All was well. Very, very well.

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After a challenging start to the season, Arne Slot made the call to omit Salah from his team for a game against West Ham . The Dutchman said it was "not a nice thing" to leave his starman out and the call raised more than a few eyebrows....

Salah responded to being dropped by dropping an absolute bombshell in the mixed zone just weeks later. He went in on Slot, claiming he had "no relationship" with the Liverpool boss and that he felt he had been "thrown under the bus".

It felt like this was the point of no return for the forward. Salah even implied that he would leave in January, saying he had told his family to head to Anfield for his final game before departing for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Did he even hint at his next destination? He said: "Is there interest from Saudi Arabia? I don’t want to answer that question because the club will take me in a different direction. I have done so much for this club. I love the fans so much and love the club, I don't know what is next."

Salah did not travel with the Liverpool squad to Rome for a Champions League fixture after his rant. But he was selected by Slot after peace talks at the club's training ground.

A positive development in the immediacy. But his long-term future was still very much up in the air as he headed off to AFCON....

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After being linked with Saudi Pro League clubs in successive transfer window, Salah's comments were pretty much the perfect facilitator for further interest.

But it emerged that clubs had cooled their pursuit of the forward - for now at least. With no mid-season move and Salah back in the Liverpool team, it looked as though a corner had been turned.

However, despite the noise quietening off the pitch, criticism of his performances on it continued. Salah has just one Premier League goal since November and has been facing increasing calls to again, be taken out of the starting line up.

Slot had resisted stoking any more issues, with player and manager fighting on a united front with little sign of his imminent announcement.

And then came Tuesday night, when Salah confirmed this will be his final season as a Liverpool player in an emotional video shared on social media.

One of Liverpool's all-time greats will bring the curtain down on his illustrious Anfield career in the coming weeks. And we all should feel privileged that we get to witness it.