Mohamed Salah: Arne Slot says there’s no reason to want him out of Liverpool
Arne Slot indicated he plans to speak with Mohamed Salah before deciding whether Salah will feature in Liverpool’s upcoming match against Brighton & Hove Albion, while stressing that there is no reason for Salah to depart the club in January.
Salah was left out of Liverpool’s squad for their midweek UEFA Champions League win over Inter Milan after his explosive interview following the Reds’ 3-3 draw with Leeds United. The 33-year-old, who had been benched for a third straight game against Leeds, claimed he had been "thrown under the bus" by the club and suggested his relationship with Slot had deteriorated.
“I will have a conversation with Mo this morning,” Slot said at his pre-match press conference on Friday. “The outcome of that conversation will shape how things look tomorrow. The next time I speak about Mo should be with him, not here. You can keep pushing, but there isn’t much more to say.”
“Since the Sunderland game, there have been a lot of talks between his representatives and ours, between our representatives and him, between him and me, and today I will speak to him again.”
Salah hinted last weekend that the Brighton game could be his final appearance for Liverpool, with the Egypt international set to head to the Africa Cup of Nations on December 15. Salah has long attracted interest from Saudi clubs and could leave in January if a resolution with Slot and Liverpool’s hierarchy isn’t reached.
“I think we decided as a club—and I was part of that decision—not to take him to Inter Milan, and I am always in touch with (sporting director Richard Hughes and Fenway Sports Group’s CEO of Football Michael Edwards). When it comes to selecting the starting lineup or the squad, those decisions are always left to me,” Slot explained. “That doesn’t mean I don’t talk to them; mainly with Richard, not so much with Michael, but I consult him about many things: whether to play a player or include him in the squad. As I’ve experienced until now, and I believe this will never change, the decision is entirely mine.”
Asked whether he would like Salah to stay beyond next month, Slot replied: “I have no reasons not to want him to stay, if that answers the question.”
Liverpool have gone four games unbeaten in all competitions, but have won only two of their last 10 Premier League matches. Reflecting on his side’s recent form, Slot said: “Apart from not losing, we’ve shown in the last four games that we’re a difficult team to beat and capable of creating chances. The squad has worked incredibly hard, shown great resilience, and performed with limited player availability.” He added that the team’s results had been a touch unlucky despite the evident effort.
Would you agree with Slot’s assessment, or do you think Salah’s situation could force a broader change at Liverpool? Share your thoughts in the comments.
