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Beth Lindop
Arne Slot has announced he will speak with Mohamed Salah prior to determining his involvement in Liverpool’s upcoming match against Brighton & Hove Albion. He expressed that he has “no reasons” for wanting the striker to depart the club in January.
Salah did not participate in Liverpool’s midweek win over Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League after his candid remarks following the Reds’ 3-3 draw with Leeds United. The 33-year-old was benched for a third consecutive match against Leeds and claimed he felt “thrown under the bus” by the club, suggesting a rift had developed between himself and Slot.
“I’m going to have a talk with Mo this morning,” Slot stated in his pre-match press conference on Friday. “The result of our conversation will influence how things will unfold tomorrow. I believe the next time I discuss Mo should be directly with him and not here. We’ve talked a lot, but there’s not much more to add.”
“We’ve had many discussions over the past week following the match against Sunderland, including talks between his representatives and ours, as well as with him directly,” Slot added. “I will speak with him again today.”
Salah hinted that the encounter with Brighton could be his final one for Liverpool, as he prepares to head to the Africa Cup of Nations on December 15. The Egyptian international has been a target for Saudi Arabian clubs and may depart Liverpool in January if discussions with Slot and the club’s management do not yield a satisfactory resolution.
“As a club, we decided – and I was part of that decision – not to include him in the squad for the Inter Milan match. I consistently communicate with (sporting director Richard Hughes and Fenway Sports Group CEO of Football Michael Edwards), but when it comes to lineup decisions, they always leave that to me,” Slot clarified. “This doesn’t mean I don’t discuss things, mainly with Richard, but the final decision regarding a player’s inclusion is entirely mine.”
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When asked if he wanted Salah to stay at Anfield beyond January, Slot responded: “I have no reasons to want him to leave, if that’s helpful at all.”
Liverpool remains unbeaten across their last four matches in all competitions, though they have only managed victories in two of their last ten Premier League games. Reflecting on his team’s recent form, Slot remarked: “Despite being unbeaten, we have demonstrated a resilience in the last four games, making ourselves tough to beat and challenging for chances.”
“The players have worked exceptionally hard, put forth great effort, and although results haven’t always favored us, they’ve shown remarkable resilience during a stretch of four games in ten days with limited squad availability,” he added. “It’s a testament to the players and the dedication they’ve shown in securing results.”