Michael Owen has hit out at Mohamed Salah's recent comments, saying the Egyptian star's words are falling on Liverpool like "hand grenades". Salah has criticised Arne Slotin and the Reds' current style of play, ahead of his departure from Anfield.
After nine memorable years at Liverpool, during which he won two Premier League titles, a Champions League, four Golden Boots and three PFA Player of the Year awards, Salah is preparing to bid farewell to the club.
The 33-year-old striker is set to leave this summer as a free agent after his contract was set to expire 12 months before it was due to expire. He has been linked with clubs in Europe, MLS and Saudi Arabia.
Salah will leave as a modern Liverpool legend, having scored over 250 goals for the club. However, his final season has been a difficult one. After being benched in the latter part of 2025, the Egyptian accused the club and coaching staff of leaving him alone in the face of criticism.
Salah then released a statement on social media, writing:
"I've seen this club go from doubters to believers and from believers to champions. It took a lot of work and I always did everything I could to help the club get there. Nothing makes me prouder than that."
"Our slump to another defeat this season was very painful and it is not what our fans deserve. I want to see Liverpool return to being the heavy metal attacking team that opponents fear, and a team that wins trophies."
Many immediately criticized Salah for speaking out publicly while still at the club. However, his disappointment is understandable, as Liverpool have fallen significantly from the level of a championship team and are in fifth place this season, despite spending heavily in the 2025 summer transfer window.
Asked whether Salah's latest outburst is understandable or unnecessary, former Liverpool striker Michael Owen told GOAL:
"Both. Is it understandable? Yes. Do I agree with what he said? Yes. But would I say it? No."
That's the point. I don't think it was a wise thing to say, although he's probably right. Of course Liverpool fans want to see better football. Of course they want better results. And of course they don't want a team that wins one game and loses the next.
"Nothing he said was wrong. The problem was that he said it publicly."
Owen stressed that Salah's habitual silence makes his statements even more powerful.
"The problem with Mo Salah is that he usually speaks very rarely. But when he does, he throws hand grenades. If he spoke all the time, maybe it wouldn't be such a big shock. But everything he says becomes big news. And when it's something negative about the club, the coach or someone else, then the situation explodes immediately.
"So, I agree with everything he said, but I don't agree with him saying it publicly, because who is this helping? No one benefits."
Another Liverpool legend, Jamie Carragher, has called Salah "selfish" and admitted he is not surprised that the "Egyptian King" has dropped another "bomb" on the eve of leaving Anfield.
His behavior has also been compared to that of Cristiano Ronaldo, when the Portuguese forced an early departure from Manchester United in 2022.
Owen agrees that such statements serve no one, as they open up unnecessary public debate. However, he admits that Salah has raised some valid points and that everyone at Liverpool knows that standards need to be raised significantly in the 2026/27 season. /GazetaExpress/
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