Liverpool legend Alan Shearer has expressed empathy for Mohamed Salah’s growing frustration at being left out of the starting lineup, but he delivered a firm reminder that no individual is bigger than the team. Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast alongside Gary Lineker, Shearer drew on his own experiences at Newcastle under Ruud Gullit to highlight the challenges of being sidelined, while also criticizing Salah for airing his grievances publicly.
Shearer acknowledged the striker’s emotions, saying he understood the “frustration and anger” of missing out for three consecutive games, culminating in Salah’s pointed post-match comments following Liverpool’s 3-3 draw against Leeds. “I know how it feels,” Shearer explained. “I went through something similar when Ruud Gullit left me out and made it clear he wanted me out of the club.”
However, Shearer was quick to distinguish his own approach. When Lineker noted that he never spoke out publicly about such situations, Shearer was unequivocal: “No, I didn’t, and I don’t think you can. That’s why I feel Salah handled it the wrong way this time.” He emphasized that the club must always come before the individual, suggesting that the Africa Cup of Nations break could offer Salah an opportunity to reset mentally and return to a more harmonious environment at Anfield.
The former England captain also highlighted the risk for manager Arne Slot in benching a player of Salah’s caliber. “When a manager leaves big players out, he has to achieve results to justify it, and right now, that isn’t happening,” Shearer warned, underlining the delicate balance between team strategy and managing star players.
Salah’s situation reflects a broader challenge in football: balancing player egos, public perception, and club priorities. While frustration is natural, Shearer’s advice serves as a reminder that professionalism and discretion often play as big a role in a player’s career as talent
