Mohamed Salah gesture takes on greater meaning and he may have played final Liverpool game already

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Mohamed Salah was seen waving to Liverpool supporters after the 3-3 draw at Leeds before his explosive post-match interviewIt appeared just a wave to acknowledge the support from the travelling Kop. But Mohamed Salah’s reaction after walking up to the away end after the final whistle of Liverpool's latest disappointment soon took on rather more significant meaning.Salah’s explosive comments to the media in the mixed zone after the match – expressing his hurt at remaining on the bench for a third successive game, feeling he is being scapegoated for the team’s current ills this season and, more alarmingly, claiming a complete breakdown in his relationship with head coach Arne Slot – soon meant he could have been saying goodbye.Yes, Liverpool have two more games before Salah joins up with Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations, with Tuesday’s Champions League clash at Inter followed by a home game against Brighton.READ MORE: Mohamed Salah drops Liverpool exit bombshell and says next week may be final Reds gameREAD MORE: Dominik Szoboszlai revelation speaks volumes after Liverpool throw away win at LeedsBut with the January transfer window open by the time the winger will be expected back at Anfield, there is the very real possibility that, with the Saudi Pro League surely now on red alert, those could represent a farewell for one of the greatest players in Liverpool’s history.In fact, he may have already made his final outing for the Reds given the nature of the bombshell interview that took place at Elland Road on Saturday evening.Salah rarely speaks to the press in such a candid manner – the last time was just over 12 months ago when questioning the club’s desire to offer him a new contract – so his words will always carry extra weight.And there was no hidden message, no reading between the lines required.

This is exactly what the Egyptian wanted everyone to know.There’s no doubt that being benched for a third successive game – and not even making an appearance as Liverpool twice threw away the lead to eventually draw 3-3 at Leeds United – is fresh territory for the player, a sign that, now 33, he is no longer an automatic first name on the teamsheet.It’s worth pointing out the Reds, having lost nine of their previous 12 games, were unbeaten in those three matches, even if the results and performances weren’t consistently impressive.And while, as he says, not the only player to underperform this campaign, Salah cannot argue his performances have been anywhere near his best.Indeed, the winger has previously been benched on several occasions, most notably in the Champions League games at Galatasaray and Eintracht Frankfurt. But he isn’t the only high-profile player to be axed by Slot this season as the Reds boss strives to find a winning formula that continues to elude the outgoing Premier League champions.For a player so accustomed to being the main man, Salah is having to reconcile an inevitable decline in output and the plain fact he is simply not going to be part of a future Liverpool hope will be spearheaded by Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and the raft of other summer arrivals.Salah has never taken it well when benched, infamously declaring “there will be fire” if he spoke after being among the substitutes at West Ham United in April 2024.But no player enjoys being dropped.

And few respond in this manner, even if some allowances can be made given his outstanding contribution over the last years.Evidently the prospect of becoming a squad player – albeit one that would presumably feature more often than not – does not sit easily with the Egyptian.The question now is whether Salah has burned his bridges not only with Slot but also the Liverpool hierarchy, with whom he clearly has taken issue over what he believes are broken promises from the summer.Salah will undoubtedly – and perhaps not unreasonably – be criticised for choosing now, at the end of a week which could well prove pivotal in determining both the immediate and long-term future of Slot, to air grievances that have clearly been bubbling under the surface for some time.At a time when Liverpool require a united front to revive a spluttering season, Salah has opted to ensure the focus is commanded by his individual woes. If Salah isn’t present, this clear powerplay may have ensured he has passed the point of no return at Anfield.It was outside Southampton in November last year the Egyptian admitted he was “more out than in” when discussing his Liverpool future amid the ongoing contract impasse.Now, barely months after putting pen to paper on that two-year deal, Salah is more out than ever before.