Liverpool pair have been the real ‘target’ and Mohamed Salah did not help

Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Echo or go back to LFC Live.

Liverpool Echo IconSportFootballLiverpool FCFormer Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf is the latest to weigh in on Mohamed Salah's recent Liverpool outburst23:14, 19 Dec 2025Updated 23:14, 19 Dec 2025Liverpool star Mohamed Salah has been criticised for the timing of his recent bombshell interview and reminded that he is not the only player in the squad being called out for poor performances.Arne Slot's side have endured a difficult first half of the season, with form after the November international break taking an even deeper hit. The Egyptian started matches against West Ham, Sunderland and Leeds United on the bench and was only called upon by the manager in one of those games.READ MORE: Mohamed Salah's apology to Liverpool team-mates and how it went down in dressing roomREAD MORE: Thomas Frank responds to Tottenham sack pressure before Liverpool clashFollowing a last-gasp 3-3 draw against Leeds at Elland Road earlier this month, Salah spoke to reporters in the mixed zone and claimed he felt he was being unfairly scapegoated for Liverpool's dismal form.

Now that he has departed for the Africa Cup of Nations, it remains unclear whether he will return to Anfield next month.Pundits, the media and fans alike have weighed in on Salah's situation, with many empathising with his position. Others have taken a far less sympathetic view, and former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf is one of those to adopt that stance.The Frenchman admitted he could not understand the timing of Salah's interview, given he was just over a week away from departing for AFCON.

He also insisted that the 33-year-old is not the only Liverpool player to have been questioned and criticised during the team's abhorrent run of form."I didn't understand his outburst when he said, ‘I'm the target,' no, you're not the target," Leboeuf said in an interview with the Echo, via BetVictor Online Casino. Now he's left, so what's gonna happen to him?"I don't know what Liverpool's decision will be but it smells like the end for me and maybe Salah did it because he already had answers maybe from Saudi Arabia and wants to be out of the club."