Arne Slot was asked for the latest on Mohamed Salah at his press conference to preview Liverpool's Premier League clash at home to Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday
Arne Slot speaks at his Liverpool press conference this morning
Arne Slot speaks at his Liverpool press conference this morning
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Arne Slot has confirmed he will hold face-to-face talks with Mohamed Salah this morning and says he has no reason for the forward to leave. Salah was omitted from the 19-man Liverpool squad that travelled to Italy on Monday for the following evening's Champions League clash with Inter at the San Siro after making explosive comments in the mixed zone following the 3-3 Premier League draw at Leeds United.
The Egyptian said that he was "being thrown under the bus" by the Reds and that his relationship with head coach Slot had completely broken down after being left as an unused substitute for the second time in three games.
Salah also hinted that the visit of Brighton & Hove Albion tomorrow (Saturday) could be his last match for the club, where he has won every major honour and is the third highest goalscorer in its history with 250 goals.
After the game, he will link up with his Egypt international team-mates in preparation for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco and will not return to Merseyside until January, by which point the transfer window will have reopened.
And Slot, whose side beat Inter 1-0 on Tuesday without their talisman, said at his press conference this morning: "I will have a conversation with him this morning and the outcome of that conversation will determine how it looks tomorrow.
"What I need is a conversation with him and the next time I speak about Mo should be with him and not in here. There's not much more I can say. I speak to him today and the outcome determines how things will look tomorrow.
"You can try (the question) in multiple ways but I just said the next time I speak about him should be with him. I think there's been a lot of conversations since the last week between his representatives and ours.
"An apology? Normally I'd say you've had your three questions!"
Slot added: "Who made the call (to leave Salah out of squad for Inter)? I think we decided as a club and I was part of that not to take him to Inter. I am always in contact with them with line up and squads, that is always left to me. I talk to Richard Hughes more than Michael Edwards, we speak about many things.
"Do I want him to stay? Another way of asking but the next time I speak about Mo will be with him. I have no reasons not to want him to stay."
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