Liverpool: Slot offers little hope of imminent resolution to Salah saga
Liverpool were impressive without their exiled star.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot appeared to offer little hope of his relationship with Mohamed Salah being imminently repaired after the Reds star was left out of the squad for their 1-0 Champions League win over Inter Milan.
Slot’s side triumphed at San Siro despite the absence of Salah, who was left behind after comments he made in the wake of last weekend’s 3-3 draw with Leeds United.
Salah did not play in the game, the third successive contest in which he started from the bench, and told reporters afterwards that he had been “thrown under the bus” and no longer had a relationship with Slot.
The Egyptian, who will depart for the Africa Cup of Nations after Liverpool’s game with Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday, posted an image on social media of him working out at Liverpool’s training complex earlier on Tuesday.
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Slot: Does Salah know he’s made a mistake?
Salah’s imminent break away from the squad has raised questions over whether Liverpool’s record Premier League goalscorer will play for the club again, and Slot’s latest remarks on the saga will do little to quiet such queries.
Asked about future talks with Salah, Slot told Amazon Prime Video: “Everyone makes mistakes in life but does the player know he’s made a mistake? Should the initiative come from him or me? That’s another question. Ibou Konate has had some difficult moments lately but he played an outstanding game.”
And after a game in which Liverpool frustrated and outplayed last season’s Champions League finalists, Slot was keen to keep the focus on the performance of the players who were involved.
“I separate these things [Salah and the game],” Slot added. “It was really hard for the players to concede in the last minute at Leeds. We hardly conceded a chance and it was really hard to take. That was already emotional and what happened afterwards was emotional.
“Thirteen players were available that had Premier League or Champions League experience. You concede and then a lot of things are being said. Normally, that affects players as well because he’s been so influential for the club and the players so it’s never nice when something happens to their team-mates.
“It should be about what we’ve done over here. I fully understand that on Friday, in the press conference, all the questions will be about Mo.
“After PSV and [Nottingham] Forest games, where we conceded seven goals in two games, it was time for us to concede less and that’s what we did against West Ham. Then we played Sunderland and their first chance came in the 86th minute. Their first goal wasn’t even a chance and then came Leeds.
“We showed character in the second half and changed the tactics a little bit.”
Champions League break could help Liverpool
With the next round of Champions League fixtures not taking place until January, Slot is hopeful that more time to prepare between games will help his side gain much-needed momentum.
“It’s mainly video you can use but then we have a week off after Saturday then we go to Tottenham,” Slot said when asked about building on this result.
“We have a bit more training time coming up. It’s not common in football that you play four games in 10 days and that’s what we had to deal with.”