Liverpool manager Arne Slot has drawn a line in the sand, declaring he is “not weak” after dropping Mohamed Salah from the squad to face Inter Milan. In a high-stakes power struggle that has gripped the football world—and terrified Liverpool’s massive Kenyan fanbase—Slot denied that his authority has been undermined by the Egyptian star’s explosive claims of betrayal.

The tension, simmering for weeks, boiled over after Salah was benched for the third consecutive game during Saturday’s 3-3 draw with Leeds United. The 33-year-old winger, an icon across Africa, subsequently told reporters he felt “thrown under the bus” by the club and that his relationship with Slot had effectively collapsed. Slot’s response in Milan on Monday night was calm but clinically firm.

The ‘Weakness’ Defense

Speaking ahead of Tuesday’s critical Champions League tie at the San Siro, Slot rejected the notion that his polite demeanor signals a lack of control. “Usually I am calm and polite, but that doesn’t mean I am weak,” Slot told the press. “If a player has these comments about so many things, then it’s about me and the club to react. We reacted in a way you can see—he’s not here.”

For the thousands of Kenyan Kopites who congregate in video halls from Kibera to Kisumu, this is more than a tactical decision; it is a cultural earthquake. Salah is not just a player; he is the face of African excellence in the Premier League. Yet, Slot insisted the decision was necessary to protect the team culture, even as he admitted he has “no clue” if Salah has played his last game for the Reds.

The King in Exile

The rift centers on Salah’s belief that promises made during his contract renewal in April 2025 were broken. Despite signing a lucrative two-year extension—reportedly worth over £350,000 a week (approx. KES 57.7 million)—Salah has found himself marginalized during Liverpool’s dismal run of four wins in 15 games.

• The Spark: Salah was an unused substitute vs. Leeds.
• The Accusation: “It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus… someone wants me to get all the blame,” Salah said Saturday.
• The Fallout: He has been left in Liverpool while the squad traveled to Italy.

Analysts suggest this public spat is a gamble for both men. For Slot, dropping the club’s highest earner while under pressure for results is a career-defining risk. For Salah, airing dirty laundry publicly risks alienating the hierarchy just months before he departs for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

A Nation Holds Its Breath

In Kenya, where the Premier League is a staple of daily conversation and the betting economy, the uncertainty is palpable. “We are torn,” says avid Liverpool supporter James Mwangi in Nairobi. “Slot is the manager, but Mo is the King. If he leaves like this, it’s a tragedy.”

With Salah set to join the Egypt squad for AFCON next Monday, Saturday’s match against Brighton could theoretically be his Anfield farewell. However, Slot offered a glimmer of hope amidst the gloom. “I am a firm believer that there is always a possibility to return for a player,” he noted, refusing to declare the relationship dead.

As Liverpool prepares to walk out at the San Siro without their talisman, the message from the manager is clear: The club comes first. Whether the Egyptian King accepts a role as a subject, however, remains the multi-billion shilling question.