In the tit-for-tat world of football punditry, Liverpool stalwart Jamie Carragher and ex-Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand have been busy exchanging online barbs. The spat erupted following Liverpool’s recent triumph over Brighton and a subsequent comment from Ferdinand concerning Mohamed Salah.
Liverpool’s Egyptian talisman, Salah, had previously lashed out at the club, accusing them of making him a scapegoat amid a rough patch in their season. His frustrations stemmed from manager Arne Slot’s decision to bench him for three straight games. Nevertheless, after discussions ahead of their match against Brighton, Salah rejoined the squad, assisting in a vital victory after being subbed on due to Joe Gomez’s injury.
Carragher, known for his forthright punditry, didn’t hold back on Sky Sports, lambasting Salah’s public airing of grievances as “disgraceful.” Carragher remarked, “Salah’s thrown the club under the bus twice in the last 12 months. He needs to pull his socks up and help the team out of this rut.”
Ferdinand, however, cheekily highlighted Salah’s hero status following the Brighton game by asking Carragher on social media, “Thoughts @Carra23? ‘Mo Salah’ being sung by the Kop.”
Carragher, with his wit intact, clapped back, criticising Ferdinand’s involvement with FIFA, especially during their ornate World Cup draw: “Thoughts on the price of the World Cup tickets @rioferdy5? A man of the people would surely call out @FIFAcom & Infantino. Or was your pay for the draw meant to buy your silence?”
Ferdinand’s retort was less verbose, choosing to send merely two fishing emojis, to which Carragher responded with a jab about social media antics: “The old classic. Then tweet about Arsenal & tag Piers Morgan to fill your notifications up.”
It’s just another episode in the ongoing theatre of football pundits, played out in the public eye to the amusement of fans everywhere.