Sunday’s briefing: Mohamed Salah casts doubt on Liverpool future as Arsenal lose

Mohamed Salah cast doubt on his Liverpool future after being on the bench for the third successive game at Leeds.

Salah delivered a bombshell post-match interview in which he claimed he has been “thrown under the bus” by Liverpool and has no relationship with manager Arne Slot.

Elsewhere, Premier League leaders Arsenal lost 2-1 at Aston Villa and Manchester City capitalised by beating Sunderland 3-0 to move to within two points of the Gunners.

Salah fumes at Liverpool and claims he has been “thrown under the bus”

Salah has suggested Liverpool’s match against Brighton next week could be his last game at Anfield.

The 33-year-old Egypt international was on the bench once again as the Reds drew 3-3 with Leeds at Elland Road, and then gave an explosive seven-and-a-half minute interview after the match.

“Now I’m sitting on the bench and I don’t know why,” Salah said. “It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus.

“That is how I am feeling. I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame.

“I got a lot of promises in the summer and so far I am on the bench for three games so I can’t say they keep the promise. I said many times before that I had a good relationship with the manager, and all of a sudden we don’t have any relationship.”

Title race takes dramatic turn

Arsenal suffered a 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa – and Manchester City took full advantage to cut the gap at the top of the Premier League.

Emiliano Buendia scored with the last kick of the match to end the Gunners’ 11-game unbeaten run in the league after Leandro Trossard had earlier cancelled out Matty Cash’s opener.

City kicked off after Arsenal’s defeat and swept aside Sunderland 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium with goals from Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol and Phil Foden.

“Yes it is better to be closer than further to the top of the league but, from my experience of winning the Premier League and titles, it is about the consistency,” said City manager Pep Guardiola.

England start World Cup campaign in Dallas

England will open their World Cup campaign against Croatia in the air-conditioned comfort of the AT&T Stadium in Dallas.

Thomas Tuchel’s men learned their match venues and kick-off times on Saturday, 24 hours after Friday’s draw pitted them against Croatia, Ghana and Panama in Group L.

England will play 2018 semi-final conquerors Croatia at 9pm UK time on June 17, 3pm local time in Texas, at the home of the Dallas Cowboys NFL team.

The second match against Ghana on June 23 is a 4pm kick-off in Boston, 9pm in the UK, while the final group game against Panama at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, is a 5pm kick-off local time – 10pm in the UK on June 27.

Messi magic guides Inter Miami to MLS Cup glory

A Lionel Messi-inspired Inter Miami won the MLS Cup for the first time with a 3-1 final victory over Vancouver Whitecaps.

Messi produced two superb assists in the closing stages for Rodrigo De Paul and Tadeo Allende after Whitecaps had cancelled out an early Miami goal.

Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi joined Miami in the summer of 2023 and has now won nearly 50 trophies in his storied career.

What’s on today?

Premier League action sees Crystal Palace at Fulham with the Eagles having the chance to go into the top four, while Brighton host relegation-threatened West Ham.

The top two meet in the Scottish Premiership as Celtic host Hearts.

There are five games in the Women’s Super League with leaders Manchester City at Leicester and second-placed Chelsea at home to Everton.