Arne Slot has stated there are “no reasons to not want Mohamed Salah to stay” at Liverpool and plans to have further discussions with the winger on Friday morning.
Salah expressed feeling “thrown under the bus” by the club following Saturday’s draw against Leeds, which led to him being omitted from the squad for Tuesday’s Champions League match against Inter Milan.
The 33-year-old forward also asserted that he had “earned his place” in the team during a media interaction at Elland Road.
When asked about Salah’s future, especially after he signed a new two-year contract in April, Reds manager Slot remarked, “I have no reasons to not want him to stay.”
Read also:
- Salah shockingly dropped from Liverpool squad after explosive interview against Coach Arne slot
- Late Szoboszlai penalty gives Salah-less Liverpool slim win over Inter
- Spectre of Salah still hangs over Liverpool despite win over Inter
He added, “I will have a conversation with Mo,” noting that the outcome of their discussion will influence the team’s lineup for Saturday’s match against Brighton at Anfield, scheduled for 15:00 GMT, as Liverpool aims to recover from two consecutive league draws.
Salah, who has netted 250 goals in 420 appearances for Liverpool, has been an unused substitute in two of the last three Premier League matches.
His last appearance was in the 1-1 draw against Sunderland on December 3, where he came on as a substitute, and his most recent start was on November 26 during a Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven.
“After the Sunderland game, there were numerous discussions between his representatives and ours, as well as between him and me,” Slot mentioned. Salah is expected to leave for the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday, and depending on Egypt’s progress in the tournament, he may not return to Merseyside until after the final on January 18.
He has scored five goals in 18 appearances across the Premier League and Champions League this season.
During a press conference on Monday, Slot admitted he had “no clue” if Salah had played his last game for the club but expressed his strong belief in the possibility of a player’s return.
Salah was linked to a move to Saudi Arabia last summer, and that interest persists, with Saudi Pro League CEO Omar Mugharbel identifying him as a target for clubs.
In Friday’s press conference, Slot faced persistent questions about his relationship with Salah and his autonomy in team selection decisions. “We decided as a club – and I was part of that decision – not to take him to Milan,” Slot explained. “I am always in contact with them [sporting director Richard Hughes and chief executive Michael Edwards], but when it comes to deciding the lineup or the squad, they leave that to me.”
It’s somewhat perplexing that Liverpool fans remain uncertain whether Saturday’s match at Anfield will serve as a farewell for Salah, as he suggested after the Leeds game.
However, since Thursday was a day off for the Liverpool players and Salah did not travel to Milan, it is logical that crucial discussions between Slot and Salah will occur at the training center on Friday morning. A key point from Slot was his assertion that he has “no reasons” to want Salah to leave.
