Mohamed Salah could have played his last game for Liverpool following an explosive interview in which he shared his thoughts on his Liverpool future and head coach Arne Slot, among other topics.
The star forward has been left out of the Champions League squad to face Inter MIlan on Tuesday, with sources telling ESPN he has been temporarily removed from selection.
It follows Liverpool's all-time Premier League top scorer being omitted from starting XI in their last three Premier League matches, and only coming off the bench in one of those.
The Egypt international will leave his club issues behind as he sets off to the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco on Dec. 15. If Egypt make it to the final then he will miss seven matches and return in late January.
It's a remarkable turnaround for a player who ended speculation over his future by signing a new two-year contract extension in April as Liverpool eased to the Premier League title.
What did Salah say at Leeds?
Salah spoke to reporters in the mixed zone at Elland Road after Liverpool's draw with Leeds.
"I could not believe I am sitting on the bench for 90 minutes," he said. "That's the third time. It's the first time in my career, I think. Very disappointed, done so much for this club over years, especially last season, It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That's how I feel it.
"Someone wants me to get all the blame. [The] club promised me a lot in summer. Now I'm on bench so can say they haven't kept those promises. I used to have a good relationship [with Slot]. Now we don't have any relationship and I don't know why. [It] seems like someone does not want me in the club."
Read full story from ESPN's Beth Lindop at Elland Road
Falling out of Arne Slot's starting XI
Nov. 30: West Ham 0-2 Liverpool
Arne Slot insisted that Mohamed Salah is still "so important" for Liverpool despite dropping the forward for the victory against West Ham in east London.
He was left on the bench for the first time under Slot in the Premier League, and goals from Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo gave Liverpool a much-needed win.
Salah was cast out amid a poor run of form for both the club and the player -- Liverpool having lost six of seven in the league prior to the game and Salah only managing four goals.
Dec. 3: Liverpool 1-1 Sunderland
Salah was left out of Liverpool's starting lineup for the second straight Premier League match.
The Egypt international came on at the start of the second half as Liverpool rallied from a goal down to draw 1-1.
Slot acknowledged that Salah was unhappy at being dropped the previous weekend against West Ham but said he "handled himself really well" and was a "top professional."
Dec. 6: Leeds United 3-3 Liverpool
Salah was named among the substitutes for the third straight game by head coach Arne Slot as Leeds piled more misery on Liverpool.
A quickfire brace from Hugo Ekitike had seemingly set Liverpool on their way for a much-needed win only for Leeds to fight back and bring the scores level. Dominik Szoboszlai then put The Reds back in front before Au Tanaka pegged them back again in the 96th minute.
Having not been introduced from the bench, Salah applauded the travelling Liverpool fans at the full-time whistle before heading down the tunnel and later giving an incendiary interview about his relationship with Slot and his Liverpool future.
Downturn in form
Salah's output for Liverpool in the Premier League this season has been markedly reduced compared to the outstanding campaign he put together during the team's run to the title in 2024-25.
While he has been out of Slot's preferred team in recent weeks, Salah has only played 110 minutes fewer than he had done at this point in 2024-25.
He has scored four goals in 13 matches so far this term -- seven fewer than he had managed by Dec. 6 last season. Unsurprisingly, Salah's expected goals (xG) figure is way down: 3.88 this season compared to 10.46 last. He has also contributed six fewer assists.
Interestingly, though, Salah has created more chances for teammates (28 vs. 26) than he had done at this stage in the last campaign, and played eight more key passes (26 vs. 18).
Salah trains, but omitted for Milan
Salah trained with the first team at the AXA Training Centre on Monday morning, however the club made the decision to leave him out of the travelling party for Tuesday's match against Inter Milan.
Sources told ESPN the decision taken in consultation with and with Slot's full support.
Given the nature and timing of the player's public comments, there is a belief that a period away from the squad is in the best interests of all parties, though Salah will not face disciplinary action.
Read the full story from Beth Lindop
Information from ESPN's Global Sports Research contributed to this report