Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk told his team-mates that no one deserves special treatment just days before Mo Salah argued that he shouldn't need to fight for his place. Salah, 33, dropped a bombshell on Saturday night after he was benched by manager Arne Slot for the third successive game, as the Premier League champions were held to a 3-3 draw away to Leeds United.

In a conversation with journalists, the Liverpool forward accused the club of 'throwing him under bus' and hinted that next Saturday's home game against Brighton could be his farewell. Salah also claimed that he should be a guaranteed starter because of what he's done for Liverpool in the past, despite his poor form.

"I don't have to go every day fighting for my position because I earned it," the Egyptian said. "I am not bigger than anyone but I earned my position. It's football."

Van Dijk, however, appears to disagree. When asked if Salah's absence from the starting line-up for Wednesday's 1-1 draw at home to Sunderland should serve as a message to the Reds' dressing room, Van Dijk responded: "That's always been the case. It's not like you have unlimited credit, everyone has to perform.

"Mo has been doing that but the manager made that decision in the last two games. We all want the best for the club. I am pretty sure Mo will still be a big part of what we are trying to achieve because he is an amazing player and he has shown it consistently.

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"But we are all trying to find consistency and he needs us to be in our best shape and we need him and that's what we are all trying to find. He is still a fantastic player and we still have to remember there is a reason why he has been so successful at the club and we have to respect that.

"I need him around as one of the leaders. I'm not worried. He's disappointed but that's absolutely normal as if you're not disappointed when you're not playing two games in a row then there is an issue as well."

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Whether Salah will play for Liverpool again under Slot remains to be seen, as he told reporters that they suddenly have 'no relationship'. The two-time Premier League winner revealed: "I've said a few times before that I have a good relationship with the manager and now all of a sudden we have no relationship. I don't know why.

"It seems like the club are throwing me under the bus - that's how I feel," Salah added. "I think it is very clear that somebody wants me to take all the blame."

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