How Liverpool’s senior goalkeeper balanced honesty, loyalty and club priorities
Liverpool’s preparations for their Champions League trip to Inter Milan were overshadowed on Monday evening as Alisson Becker stepped forward to address the escalating tension surrounding Mohamed Salah’s public outburst at the weekend.
With the Egyptian omitted from the travelling squad and speculation intensifying about the internal atmosphere at Liverpool, the Brazilian goalkeeper became the first senior figure to speak openly about the crisis.
Alisson’s candid remarks on Salah’s comments
Alisson found himself operating in delicate territory: a long-standing teammate on one side, his head coach and club interests on the other. Still, he did not shy away from acknowledging the gravity of the situation created by Salah’s remarks.
He told reporters: “It’s not an easy situation. As a group, we take it as best as we can. We have a personal relationship with him. I’ve been playing with Mo since I came to Europe, one year at Roma and seven years at Liverpool.”
The Brazilian also made clear that Salah’s omission from the squad to face Inter Milan was not a coincidence. “Him not being available [v Inter] is a consequence of what he did. He’s smart enough to know that. I haven’t spoken to Mo about it [in the way that] I want to talk.”
Alisson was keen to emphasise that this is more than a professional connection. “We have a good relationship. It’s not just a teammate; we spend so much time together. We are good friends. You share so many moments together, happy moments, sad moments. That creates a bond between people. I will have a conversation but it’s going to be private because it’s personal.”
Despite his disappointment in the manner and timing of Salah’s remarks, Alisson made clear his hope that the saga can move towards a constructive outcome. “As his teammates and his friends, we hope the best thing happens for him, but as Liverpool players we want what’s best for the club. We want a win-win for him and the club.”
He also dismissed any suggestion of tension with Arne Slot, responding instantly when asked if he still backs the head coach: “Of course, yes.”
Internal unity remains crucial as Liverpool navigate turbulent spell
Alisson’s words reflect a squad caught between loyalty to a teammate and responsibility to a club trying to stabilise a season that has veered into turbulence. Liverpool’s attacking options are already stretched, with injuries to Cody Gakpo and the absence of Federico Chiesa leaving Slot short of frontline experience.
In that context, Salah’s unavailability for such a significant fixture only intensifies pressure on the manager and players alike. Yet Slot appears determined to reinforce standards and accountability, even if it means sacrificing one of the club’s most influential figures for a night in Europe.
The risk now is whether this disagreement fractures the dressing room. The goalkeeper’s calm but pointed remarks offer reassurance that he, at least, is striving to keep that from happening.
Salah remains one of Liverpool’s greatest modern players, and any scenario where his Anfield chapter closes with bitterness would feel deeply out of step with the legacy he has built since arriving from Roma in 2017. What comes next depends on dialogue, diplomacy and the willingness of all parties to rebuild trust.
Path forward for Salah and Liverpool
A victory over Inter would help restore some calm, but the long-term resolution remains uncertain. Alisson has made clear that private conversations will happen. What matters now is whether those discussions can realign relationships that have veered off course.
Liverpool need unity at a time when internal pressure is rising. Salah needs clarity on his role and future. And Alisson, as one of the squad’s most respected voices, has positioned himself as a bridge between friendship and professionalism.
Whatever happens, the fallout from this episode will shape Liverpool’s immediate future—and potentially the legacy of a player who has defined the club’s modern era.
