The player returned to action for the Reds against Marseille in midweek.
The player returned to action for the Reds against Marseille in midweek.
Mohamed Salah made his first start for Liverpool since being dropped in November in Liverpool’s midweek 3-0 victory over Marseille in the Champions League.
The winger returned from the African Cup of Nations and was immediately re-introduced into the starting lineup, demonstrating a potential repair of the relationship between himself and Arne Slot.
Things turned sour towards the end of last year, as Salah’s controversial interview at Elland Road threw significant doubt over his future at the club.
Mo Salah revealed that he felt as if he no longer had a relationship with Arne Slot, and that the club had thrown him under the bus and was making him a scapegoat for the side’s lack of success on the pitch this season.
As punishment, he was not included in Liverpool’s next matchday squad after their draw at Leeds United, and he stayed at home as his teammates travelled to the San Siro to face Inter Milan.
He then went on to make a substitute appearance against Brighton, before linking up with Egypt for AFCON.
In his pre-Bournemouth press conference, Arne Slot admitted that he feels uneasy about the prospect of dropping Mohamed Salah in the future but is prepared to do it if he feels it is the right decision for the team.
He said: “I always find it uneasy if I leave a player out and even more a player that has meant a lot for this club. You can work with a player for a long time, and you have had success with them, but part of my job is making the decision that I think is the best for the team.”
“But that is always an uneasy decision. Not only with Mo but every single player I leave out because of the work they put in. Their quality is enough to play, so it is always uneasy not to play players.”
“I think every player knows that a manager needs to make decisions, and I think every player 99 out of 100 times is disagreeing with the manager if he doesn’t play. It should be like that because if you don’t have confidence in yourself then it is hard to play in front of 60,000 people.”
“These players should have confidence that I am good enough to play and I should play. I am not talking solely about Mo, but everyone now. I think it is always hard for any player who is left out because they want to help and show they are able to help the team.”
“Mo is definitely one of them. He is not a player who says leave me out for five times in a row, everyone has seen that. But everyone is the same in that regard.”
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