Jamie Carragher gives Mohamed Salah verdict and aims snide Rio Ferdinand World Cup jab

Jamie Carragher has hit out at Rio Ferdinand after the Manchester United legend teased him for a verdict on Mohamed Salah following Liverpool's 2-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion. The Egyptian forward aimed a jab towards the Liverpool star-turned-pundit in the wake of the Reds' 3-3 draw with Leeds United last weekend, after delivering a scathing assessment of his relationship with Arne Slot.

During that match, Salah found himself benched for a third consecutive Premier League match, having sat in the dugout for clashes with West Ham and Sunderland in the build-up. However, the trip to Elland Road was evidently the straw that broke the camel's back for Salah, who delivered a bombshell to reporters in the aftermath of the fixture.

He said: "I don't know what to say. It's kind of funny, I couldn't believe it. It's a disappointing result for us as a team. We conceded silly goals. I could not help my team-mates because I am on the bench. I could not believe I was sitting on the bench for 90 minutes.

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"That's the third time. It's the first time in my career I think. I am very disappointed, I have 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 I 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."

Salah also foresaw Carragher giving his opinion on his comments during his interview, adding: "It is what it is. In football you never know, but I don't accept this situation. I have done so much for this club. I am sorry, I love Erling Haaland, I love him, but I am the current top scorer in the Premier League [most recent Golden Boot winner]. I won the league in style.

"Absolutely, it hurts me. What I have done, it hurts., I know the club well, I have been here for many years. Tomorrow, Jamie Carragher is going to criticise me, but that's fine. Is there interest from Saudi Arabia? I don't want to answer that question because the club will take me in a different direction.

"I have done so much for this club. I love the fans so much and love the club, I don't know what is next. I am scoring more than anyone in this generation since I came to the Premier League. I don't think anyone else scored more. Can I give an example? It's silly.

"Harry Kane was not scoring for 10 games [at Tottenham], maybe got one or two. Everyone in the media was; 'Harry will score for sure'. Now it is; 'Mo needs to be on the bench'.

"I don't know if someone wants me out. Don't put words in my mouth, please, it's just how it feels. I asked but I didn't see an explanation. I knew I wasn't going to play. It's just take it and swallow it."

In response, Carragher wrote in his column for the Telegraph: "If Mohamed Salah's intention with his grumble in the huddle at Elland Road was to weaken Slot, he must now concede that his misguided actions have had the opposite effect.

"The chief reason for Salah's miscalculation is his failure to fully understand the psychology of the club's hardcore fanbase. In a choice between a title-winning Anfield manager and a multi-title-winning footballer, the coach wins every time."

However, that hasn't prevented the Sky Sports and CBS pundit from giving the 33-year-old his flowers for his heroics on Saturday against Brighton, setting up Hugo Ekitike for his brace in the second half in the 2-0 win. Taking to X in the aftermath of the match, Ferdinand wrote: "Thoughts @Carra23? 'Mo Salah' being sung by the Kop."

And it didn't take Carragher long to bite back at the comment, responding: "And rightly so, he was fantastic when he came on," before aiming his own dig at the former England star. Recalling Ferdinand's position as draw host for the 2026 World Cup in North America, he added: "Thoughts on the price of the World Cup tickets @rioferdy5.

"A man of the people would surely call @FIFAcom & [Gianni] Infantino out. Or was your pay packet for the draw (acting) to buy your silence."

Ferdinand then commented on the post with a couple of fishing emojis to signal that he had gotten a bite out of Carragher. It comes as ticket prices for next summer's World Cup were revealed this week, with Mirror Football reporting earlier this week that the lowest priced ticket for any England game was just under £135.

Prices for the round of 32 and last 16, meanwhile, leap up to £175 and £220 respectively, but should England progress to the quarter finals, fans can expect to pay as much as £508 for a seat. Semi-final ticket seats are set at £687, while a ticket to the final will set fans back as much as £3,000.