Arne Slot to meet Mohamed Salah amid uncertainty over his future
Arne Slot has confirmed he will meet with Mohamed Salah this morning in discussions that could determine whether the Egyptian features against Brighton tomorrow and his longer-term future at Anfield, reports BritPanorama.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, the Liverpool manager stated: “I will have a conversation with Mo this morning and the outcome of that conversation determines how it will look tomorrow.”
Slot offered a substantial olive branch regarding the 33-year-old’s position at the club. “I have no reasons not wanting him to stay, if that is a little bit of an answer,” he added.
The forward was omitted from Tuesday’s Champions League triumph at Inter Milan following his controversial remarks last weekend, which included suggestions that Saturday’s fixture could mark his final appearance for the Reds. Slot revealed that the decision to leave Salah behind for the San Siro encounter was not his alone but rather a collective choice involving the club’s hierarchy.
“We decided as a club and I was part of that decision not to take him to the Inter Milan game,” the manager explained, clarifying his level of consultation with those above him. “When it comes to the decision-making of the line-up or the squad, that is down to me but that is not to say I don’t talk to them,” Slot said, referring to sporting director Richard Hughes and owners Fenway Sports Group.
The involvement of FSG in such matters underscores the gravity with which Liverpool’s hierarchy has treated the situation surrounding their star forward. Salah’s outburst came in the mixed zone at Elland Road following Liverpool’s 3-3 draw with Leeds, where he had remained an unused substitute for the third consecutive match.
“I’m very disappointed,” the Egyptian captain told reporters. “I’ve done so much for this club – everyone can see that – over years, especially last season, sitting on the bench I don’t know why. It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That’s how I feel it.”
He went further in his criticism of the club’s conduct. “It’s very clear that someone wants me to take all the blame. The club promised me a lot in summer. So far I am on bench for three games, so I can’t say they have kept those promises.” Salah also claimed his previously positive relationship with Slot had deteriorated entirely, suggesting unnamed figures within the organisation wanted him gone.
The fallout from Salah’s interview drew sharp criticism from Liverpool legends, with Jamie Carragher labelling the forward a “disgrace” while Steven Gerrard described his claim of being thrown under the bus as “wrong”. Five clubs are understood to be monitoring the situation ahead of the January transfer window, with Saudi Pro League sides Al-Hilal, Al-Qadisah and Neom all expressing interest alongside American outfits San Diego and Chicago Fire.
Saudi Pro League chief Omar Mugharbel confirmed at the World Football Summit in Riyadh this week: “Mohamed Salah is welcome in the Saudi League, but it is the clubs that are responsible for negotiating with players. For sure, Salah is one of their targets.”
Liverpool will be without Cody Gakpo for tomorrow’s encounter, though Federico Chiesa is available again following illness.
In a sport defined by loyalty, the unfolding saga of Salah serves as a stark reminder of how quickly the narratives can shift. The echoes of his grievances linger, and as negotiations loom, fans are left to wonder whether this chapter may yet prove parting or passage.
