Arne Slot deserves praise for the manner in which he’s dealt with the Mohamed Salah situation at Liverpool.
That’s according to journalist Valentijn Driessn, on Vandaag Inside. He admits he would not have handled the recent Liverpool drama as well as the Reds boss.
Salah lit the touch paper last week following the 3-3 draw with Leeds United. He told journalists after that game that he felt he had been thrown under the bus by Liverpool after being left on the bench once again. He also claimed that he now had no relationship with Slot despite a previously strong one.
Those comments led to him being left out of the squad for the trip to Inter Milan in the Champions League. He returned to the squad for the game against Brighton, coming on as a substitute and impressing.
But questions remains over his future at Anfield. A move in the January transfer window is still seen as a possibility despite it being talked down.
Arne Slot seen as reacting calmly
Arne Slot
Italy, Milan, 2025 12 09: Arne Slot (Liverpool manager) walks close to the bench prior to kick off during soccer game FC Inter vs Liverpool FC, UCL 2025-2026 Matchday 6 at San Siro Stadium
Slot has played down the situation publicly, refusing to be drawn into a war of words with his star man. He has insisted his relationship with Salah remains fine, and that he doesn’t want him to leave Liverpool.
Driessen is impressed by that, admitting that he would not have been so cool about Salah’s comments.
“I’d be a bit more blunt and say: ‘There’s the door,’ but Slot did a fantastic job,” he said.
“He’s also lucky to be able to bring Salah on after 25 minutes. That gave a certain cachet to that lad’s entire time at Liverpool. He later did a victory lap, which almost indicated he’ll be leaving.”