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Beth Lindop
Arne Slot, the head coach of Liverpool, stated that the club has “moved on” from the recent controversy involving Mohamed Salah, following his provocative interview at Elland Road earlier this month.
In response to questions about any lingering issues with Salah, Slot remarked, “I mentioned last week that actions speak louder than words. We’ve moved on. He was part of the squad and was the first player I substituted. Now he will be participating in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and has crucial matches ahead, so it’s important that our focus is solely on that [with Egypt].”
After being benched for the third consecutive match during Liverpool’s 3-3 draw against Leeds United, Salah expressed that the club had “thrown him under the bus” and claimed that his relationship with Slot had deteriorated.
Following his omission from the matchday squad for Liverpool’s Champions League game against Inter Milan, Salah returned to action in last week’s 2-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion.
Salah made his return as a substitute for the injured Joe Gomez in the first half, contributing with an assist in his last match before heading to the Africa Cup of Nations with the Egypt national team.
Liverpool’s victory over Brighton leaves them unbeaten in their last five matches across all competitions, and they are scheduled to face Tottenham Hotspur in London on Saturday.
Slot expressed optimism, stating, “I hope our progress translates into positive results, but I believe we are getting better.” He added, “This season, I’ve often had to rely on players who weren’t fully fit. I’m not just referring to the newcomers. I’ve noticed our players are improving in fitness, which is reflected in their performances. We are definitely making strides.”
Slot also noted, “Winning instills a good morale and spirit, particularly after significant changes during the summer. In such a closely contested league, the difference between winning and losing is monumental.”
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He emphasized, “Our primary goal is to build on our performance in the last five games. We’ve established a solid defensive foundation. As our players continue to prepare to compete at the Premier League level, there’s still more to come from us.”
Liverpool hopes to have Dominik Szoboszlai back in the lineup against Tottenham, as he has returned to training following an ankle injury incurred last weekend. Meanwhile, forward Cody Gakpo and defender Gomez remain out of action.