Liverpool manager Arne Slot has firmly denied that his relationship with Mohamed Salah is broken, despite the forward’s comments over the weekend claiming otherwise. Salah, who was omitted from Liverpool’s squad for Tuesday’s Champions League clash against Inter Milan, stated he felt “thrown under the bus” by the club and that his bond with Slot had deteriorated completely.
Addressing these claims in Milan, Slot said, “That’s not the way I feel but he has the right to feel how he feels things. I haven’t felt that at all until Saturday evening for sure.” The Dutch coach admitted the interview came as a surprise given Salah’s professional conduct in training but maintained that while he is usually polite, “that doesn’t mean I’m weak.”
The decision to leave the 33-year-old Egyptian on Merseyside was made jointly by Slot and the Liverpool hierarchy, with sources confirming the move is intended as a brief period away from selection rather than a formal disciplinary suspension. When pressed on whether Salah has played his last game for the club, Slot was non-committal, stating, “I have no clue... I cannot answer that question at this moment in time.”
He did, however, add that he is a “firm believer that there is always a possibility to return for a player.” Salah is set to join Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations next Monday, potentially ruling him out of club duties until mid-January, further complicating his immediate future at Anfield.
The fallout from Salah’s interview has drawn sharp criticism from pundits, with former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher labeling the timing a "disgrace." Carragher argued on Sky Sports that Salah’s actions were calculated to "cause maximum damage" while the club is in a vulnerable position. The Reds are currently enduring a difficult spell, sitting ninth in the Premier League and 13th in the Champions League table, with just four wins in their last 15 matches across all competitions.
Despite the external noise, Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker expressed hope for a resolution, emphasizing that the squad supports both their teammate and their manager. “I don’t think anything but I hope he plays again for the club,” Alisson said. “We as his teammates and his friends, we hope the best thing happens for him, but as Liverpool players we want the best for the club as well. We want a win-win situation.”
He also reaffirmed the players' belief in Slot’s methods to turn the season around, stating, “We believe in his style of play and that he is capable of helping us to turn around this situation.”
With Salah absent, Slot faces a selection headache for the Inter match, as injuries and illness have also sidelined Cody Gakpo, Federico Chiesa, and Wataru Endo. The manager has traveled with a depleted 19-man squad that includes three goalkeepers and three teenagers.
