Liverpool: Slot claims Reds have moved past Salah situation
Arne Slot stated that Liverpool has “moved on” from the Mohamed Salah situation as they get ready to take on Tottenham on Saturday.
Arne Slot mentioned that Liverpool has “moved on” from the Mohamed Salah situation, while preparing for their match against Tottenham with their all-time Premier League goalscorer currently participating in the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt.
Liverpool’s recent games have been clouded by the issue around Slot and Salah, who expressed his frustrations after being benched for a third consecutive match, a 3-3 tie with Leeds United earlier this month, stating he felt “thrown under the bus.”
Salah was later excluded from the lineup for Liverpool’s 1-0 victory in the Champions League against Inter Milan, before coming off the bench to assist Hugo Ekitike’s second goal in a 2-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion last Saturday.
Slot: Liverpool have moved on
His return to the team indicated that things might have improved between them, though it remains uncertain whether Salah will still be with Liverpool after the January transfer window closes, as rumors of a move to Saudi Arabia continue.
However, for Slot, this issue is settled for now, with Salah entirely focused on clinching the AFCON title with Egypt for the first time, having previously been a finalist in 2017 and 2021.
“I mentioned last week that actions speak louder than words,” Slot remarked in his pre-match press briefing.
“We’ve moved on, he was included in the squad, and he was my first substitution. Now he’s off to AFCON and has some important matches, so it’s fair that all attention is on those.”
“More ahead” for Liverpool
Liverpool is facing Spurs while grappling with multiple injury setbacks.
Cody Gakpo is likely to be sidelined due to a muscle injury, while Joe Gomez will miss out because of a hamstring issue.
Nonetheless, there is optimism that Dominik Szoboszlai might be ready for action in North London. The Hungarian has arguably been one of Liverpool’s standout players this season, but he had to leave the match against Brighton due to an ankle injury.
“He (Gakpo) had a scan that looked promising, so we’re feeling less anxious about it,” Slot shared. “He might return sooner than we initially thought, but certainly not for tomorrow.
“Joe is also out of the squad. Dominik participated in training yesterday for the first time. We’ll assess how he’s doing today.”
“Whether (Szoboszlai plays) entirely relies on how he performs today, and we will discuss it with both the player and the medical team. If he feels capable and can meet all the necessary requirements, he will be in the starting lineup. Dom would start tomorrow if he’s fully fit.”
Liverpool has faced a challenging season in their attempt to defend the Premier League title they secured in the last campaign. The Reds currently sit 10 points behind league leaders Arsenal but could break into the top four if they win and Chelsea loses to Newcastle United earlier on Saturday.
“I hope we can translate this into results, but I believe we are making strides,” Slot expressed.
“I’ve had to field players who weren’t entirely fit too many times this season. This applies not only to the new signings. I see players making progress in their fitness levels, which subsequently enhances their performances. I believe we are making definite progress.
“Winning always brings a positive feeling and a morale boost after so many changes over the summer. The league standings are so tight that each win or loss has significant implications.
“Our primary focus is to build on the performances of the last five matches. We have been solid defensively, which serves as a strong foundation, in addition to players getting increasingly ready to compete at the Premier League level. I believe there is more to come from us.”
Published: 2025-12-19 13:36:00
source: www.101greatgoals.com
