Arne Slot appears to have offered Mohamed Salah a chance to save his Liverpool career – provided the Egyptian winger feels he made a mistake with his outspoken interview at the weekend. Without Salah, the Reds beat Inter Milan 1-0 for a crucial Champions League win at the San Siro on Tuesday night. The match was the first since Salah’s explosive interview on Saturday night after being an unused substitute at Leeds United.
Salah claimed he has been “thrown under the bus” by Liverpool after being dropped to the bench for three straight matches. The 33-year-old also claimed his relationship with Slot is broken, although the manager said he feels otherwise before the trip to Milan. Without him, Dominik Szoboszlai scored a late penalty for a big three points that improves the Premier League champions’ chances of avoiding the knockout playoffs. Post-match, Slot was grilled by Dutch legend Clarence Seedorf on whether he will sit down with Salah before Saturday’s visit of Brighton. The Anfield match is the final one Salah can play in before the Africa Cup of Nations and some have suggested it may be the legendary forward’s final ever appearance for the Reds.
The Liverpool manager told Amazon Prime Video: “The first thing should be, does the player think he’s made a mistake? I haven’t said I’m not going to talk to him. The next question is, should the initiative come from me or from him? That’s another question to answer.
“But the focus tonight should be, for example Virgil [van Dijk] because the fans are singing about him. But not only Virgil. Ibou Konate has had a few difficult moments recently but he played an outstanding game today against two very good strikers.”
Asked if the win at Inter was a relief, Slot added: “If you mean [after] the 3-3 against Leeds and the draw against Sunderland, you’re correct, it’s a relief. But that is something different than what you’re describing.
“I separate these things. It was really hard for the players to concede in the last minute against Leeds. We played a very good game and hardly conceded a chance. In the last four games in general we’ve hardly conceded a chance.
“To come away with three goals conceded and a draw was really hard to take. That was already emotional then what happened afterwards was emotional. As well, it cost a little bit of energy.
“Fourth game in 10 days and 13 outfield players available that have Premier League and Champions League experience for this club. Conceding the 3-3 is already a big blow because we were close to picking up seven points in three games. Then you concede and then there’s a lot of things being said and that always affects the team a little bit.
“Ok it’s about a player with the manager, or the club, but that affects the players a bit as well. Especially because he’s been so, so, so influential for the club and the players so it’s never nice to see something happen like this to a team-mate. I think tonight it should be all about what we’ve done over here in a stadium against Inter. All the focus should be on that.
“I can fully understand on Friday all the questions will be about Mo but these players deserve that we speak about them.”
Captain Van Dijk told the same broadcaster: “Obviously it’s difficult. It’s a collective difficult situation we’re all in. Between Mo and the club, things are going on. For the consequences he’s not here today to help us try to get the three points. That’s the reality.
“I don’t think anything changes in terms of our focus and determination to get results for the football club. I don’t think I’m the one to speak if someone has to apologise. It’s him airing his feelings.
“That’s something that the club has to deal with and us as well. If I look at the dressing room, on Sunday, the day after [the interview], nothing really has changed. We have a responsibility to ourselves and the whole football club and all the fans in the world to perform. The focus was there.”
Van Dijk’s countryman Seedorf then told the centre-back he feels his team-mate Salah should apologise, to which the Liverpool skipper replied: “I’ve known Mo for such a long time. We’re good friends. We’ve been through highs and lows. He’s been a big part of the success I’ve had at the club. I’ve been a big part of his success.
“We speak and those type of things will stay indoors, like it should be. We as a team have to brace ourselves and be against the outside noise. That’s the only thing we have to be ready for. I encourage the players to do so.”
While vice-captain Andy Robertson said: “A tough situation. We’re talking about one of the greatest players to play for this club. I signed in the same window as him. Whatever has happened, happened.
“Internally, we’re all together. That’ll be up to other people, it’s not up to me. I love playing with Mo Salah and I hope to continue playing with him. We know how important being in that top eight is and avoiding a play-off. We got unlucky last season with who we drew.”
The Scottish left-back added: “Huge result. We knew we were coming to a tough place, to a team that’s in a good moment. We had to show fight and dig in. The clean sheet was crucial and then we go and scored the goal.
“We all needed it. We know the results and performances aren’t good enough. It’s important this club is in the Champions League. It was a huge result for all of us.”