Liverpool manager Arne Slot has played down tensions surrounding Mohamed Salah’s recent reaction to being dropped, insisting the club has moved on and is beginning to take shape under his vision.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s Premier League trip to Tottenham Hotspur, Slot said the controversy following Salah’s public frustration over his reduced role has been resolved internally.
“Actions speak louder than words. We’ve moved on,” Slot told reporters on Friday, referencing his decision to bring Salah off the bench in Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Brighton last weekend.
Salah, who is now set to miss up to a month of club action while representing Egypt at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, had earlier voiced his displeasure after being benched for three consecutive games, including a dramatic 3-3 draw against Leeds United. The forward suggested he was being made a scapegoat for the club’s struggles this season.
Following the remarks, Salah was omitted from the squad for the Inter Milan fixture, fueling speculation over his future amid reported interest from Saudi Pro League clubs.
Slot, however, dismissed any lingering fallout, stressing that the focus has shifted forward.
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“He’s now at AFCON playing important matches for his country,” the Dutch coach said. “That’s where his focus should be. From our side, we dealt with the situation after the Leeds interview, and he featured against Brighton. There’s nothing more to add.”
Liverpool head into the Spurs encounter on the back of an improved run of form. After suffering nine defeats in 12 matches earlier in the campaign, the Reds are now unbeaten in five games and sit seventh in the Premier League table. A win could lift them into the top-four conversation.
Slot acknowledged that his second season in England has been demanding, particularly following a major summer overhaul that saw Liverpool spend close to £450 million on reinforcements including Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez.
While Ekitike has impressed, several of the new arrivals have struggled for consistency — something Slot admitted may have taken longer to resolve than expected.
“We are getting closer to the team I want us to be, but it’s been a mix of ups and downs,” he said. “With so many changes, that’s normal. In hindsight, I may have been too optimistic about how quickly everything would click.
“Some players aren’t yet ready to play at this level for 90 minutes every week. That takes time, and we’ve also had a bit of bad luck.”
Liverpool will be without Joe Gomez and Cody Gakpo due to injury for the Tottenham clash. However, Slot confirmed that Dominik Szoboszlai is close to full fitness, while Frimpong is expected to return after a two-month injury layoff.
