EXCLUSIVE: Emile Heskey has had his say on Liverpool’s current state including the situation involving Mohamed Salah and transfer links with Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo
Isaac Seelochan Senior Sports Journalist
15:41, 18 Dec 2025
Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool future is uncertain(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
Former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey believes Mohamed Salah still has a future at Anfield. The forward has been in the media spotlight over the past few weeks following a fiery interview after the Reds’ 3-3 draw with Leeds United.
Salah hinted that he had been “thrown under the bus” and also alluded to a souring relationship with Liverpool head coach Arne Slot. The 33-year-old has recently found himself warming the bench and was left out of Liverpool’s squad for their clash against Inter Milan.
After talks with Slot, he made his comeback to the Reds’ matchday squad for their 2-0 win over Brighton last time out, replacing the injured Joe Gomez early in the first half. However, as the Egyptian heads off to the Africa Cup of Nations and with the Janaury transfer window looming – his future on Merseyside remains unclear.
And Heskey, who made 223 appearances for Liverpool, has had his say on the dramatic situation that has dominated headlines in recent weeks. In an exclusive interview with the Echo, the ex-England striker believes his old club side dealt with the situation well.
He said: “It’s always going to be a difficult situation when you’re best players comes out and makes a statement and you’re kind of firefighting after that.
“I feel like they’ve dealt with it well. The reality is there’s certain players that need to be treated a little bit different and us as players understand that and Mo Salah’s one of them.
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“There’s a situation now that you have to really articulate yourself in the best manner you possibly can to let him know, understanding why you’re going about it.
“He is not a young player, so in essence, young players don’t really need that sitting down and explaining as much. He’s a record assister, he’s got everything so he deserves a certain amount of attention and if you haven’t done that, then I wouldn’t say you’re to blame, but you should know better and Mo Salah’s in that situation, he deserves better.
“In saying that he is not susceptible to being dropped or being put on the bench or even being put on the stand. That is totally up to the manager, but there is a way of doing it with players that have sort of stature.”
Heskey believes the Reds’ star forward can still have a future under Slot – despite reports linking him with a big-money move to the Saudi Pro League.
He added: “There’s always a way back, trust me. When I first got into Leicester, Simon Grayson was there. He was told ‘you’re no longer wanted and go and find another club’.
“I worked my way way back in, so there’s that, and I know this is a different kettle of fish, but there’s always a way back in, especially with players like that.
“First and foremost, you need to sit down with each other, all parties need to sit down and be honest, just discuss where it went wrong, so I think that’s the key thing right now.”
The Reds have been one of several big clubs linked with Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo – a player Heskey thinks would fit in well at Liverpool.
“I think Semenyo would fit in any top four club, to be honest with you,” he said. “His ability to run with the ball, when you’ve seen it, he scored quite a lot of different goals as well, so, creating stuff out of nothing.
Liverpool are reportedly set to battle rivals over the signing of Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo(Image: Stu Forster/Getty Images)
“I’ve seen him be able to manipulate a ball in tight space, which is going to be key, especially for the top clubs, because guess what happens. – teams will sit and make it compact and make spaces really tight.
“You’ve got to be able to work within those tight spaces, and he’s shown that he can do that. He’s shown that he can hit on the counterattack as well, so I think he could definitely work within Liverpool, but again, he’d work within the top four, top five clubs, to be honest.”
Heskey is helping to front a groundbreaking football safety app to tackle online and matchday abuse with real-time reporting.
He insists the majority of football fans will welcome the platform. “Most supporters are brilliant,” Heskey explained. “They love the rivalry, the passion, the atmosphere. But they’re fed up with the poison that comes with it. They’re sick of being tarnished by the behaviour of the loudest few.
“This app gives them their game back. It lets ordinary, decent supporters say: ‘This isn’t who we are, and this isn’t what football should be.’”
Organisations, leagues, clubs and supporter groups interested in partnership or early adoption can register their interest at www.footballsafetyapp.com.
