Arne Slot has insisted there is no lingering issue between himself and Mohamed Salah, telling reporters to look at his lineup and see if “you still think there’s an issue.”
Salah has returned from his Africa Cup of Nations campaign after missing the last seven games, though there remains lingering question marks over his relationship with Slot.
Liverpool’s head coach has maintained during his absence, and before, that the fallout from the explosive comments at Leeds had been resolved, which he reiterated in Marseille.
With Salah part of Liverpool’s 20-man squad for the Champions League fixture, Slot was asked if this is now a chance for a fresh start with the 33-year-old.
His reply was to the point, with Slot saying: “There’s been a moment in the season where I decided not to play Mo, and there’s been one moment where I decided not to take him to the game.
“For all the other games, he’s always been in the squad, and I brought him in as the first substitution against Brighton. So, at that moment of time, there’s never been an issue for me.
“But at that moment of time, I think the outside world could see that there was no issue. And the first time he’s able to be in the squad again, he is because he trained with us today, and he’s in the squad for tomorrow.
“And let’s see for the lineup tomorrow if you still think there’s an issue.”
Is Mo Salah ready to return to Liverpool’s starting XI vs. Marseille?
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, January 20, 2026: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between Olympique de Marseille and Liverpool FC. (Photo by Jessica Hornby/Propaganda)
Asked earlier in his press conference if Salah was ready to come straight back into the starting lineup, Slot embraced having another goalscoring option.
“With Mo, really happy and pleased that he’s back, because in his absence, I think we’ve done quite okay in terms of hardly conceding any chance, we start to create more and more,” Slot started.
“And if you start to create more and more, it’s really helpful to have a player like Mo Salah.
“If there’s ever been a player, I think there was one who scored more for this club, but that can score goals and can still play, I don’t think I can play Ian Rush still, then it’s really helpful to have him back.
“We would never know, but the amount of chances, the amount of ball possession against Burnley, with Mo on the pitch, would usually mean that we would have scored more.
“That’s why I’m really happy that he’s back, because creating chances is nice, but we’re only judged on the results, and that wasn’t nice.
“So, hopefully, we can combine two things to create the same chances, be able to score more, and keep not conceding chances at the other end.”
Arne Slot on his relationship with Mo Salah
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, December 13, 2025: Liverpool's substitute Mohamed Salah comes out of tunnel before the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brighton & Hove Albion FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
As for his relationship with Salah, Slot insisted that it is “as normal as it’s always been.”
He went on to say: “There was only one exception, and there was the game against Inter where I didn’t take him, but for all the games, he was there.
“And in the last game he was at Liverpool before he went to AFCON, he came in after 15, 20 minutes and I think he had a very good performance in that game.
“So we were 1-0 up at the time, and we beat Brighton 2-0. So I think he left in a situation that was good for him and for us, because we beat Brighton, and he played again.
“And then he went to the AFCON, again did what he usually does, scoring goals. Unfortunately, he couldn’t win at the tournament, but there were other very good teams in that tournament as well.
“But got to the semi-final, and now he’s back with us.
“And of course, I spoke to him today, and I’m happy to have him back, because, as I said, this season I’ve only had two wingers who would tell me that their favourite position that have played more than 100 minutes in the Premier League, and that’s Mo and Cody.
“There are other players who can definitely play in that position, really good, by the way, as well, like Jeremie Frimpong and like Florian Wirtz.
“But if I ask Florian what is his favourite position, I don’t think he’s going to tell me left or right winger. I think he’s going to tell me another position, but he’s able to play there really well. Jeremie the same.”