Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has suggested that Mohamed Salah may have to take the initiative in resolving his dispute with the club.
Salah, 33, was left out of Liverpool’s squad for their 1-0 Champions League victory over Inter after an explosive interview on Saturday, following the 3-3 draw with Leeds United.
Slot also said that Salah’s outburst at Elland Road — in which he said his relationship with the head coach was broken — had taken an “emotional” toll on his players in a week where his side also dropped points to Sunderland and Leeds.
The Dutchman was speaking to Clarence Seedorf, the former Netherlands midfielder, on Prime Sport about the Salah case. Seedorf observed that “everyone makes mistakes” and asked whether Slot intended to bring Salah back into the fold.
Slot replied: “You say everyone makes mistakes in life, so the first thing should be, does the player think he’s made a mistake as well?
“I haven’t said I’m not going to talk to him (Salah). The next question is, should the initiative come from me or from him? Now that’s another question to answer.
“Tonight, it should be all about what we’ve done over here in a stadium like this. All the focus should be on this. These players deserve that.”
In his press conference after the game, Slot tried to clarify his comments to Seedorf, telling reporters: “I am happy that you asked that. Clarence said that in his opinion (Salah should take the initiative). I didn’t say who should make the first step.
“Tonight, it should be all about the players that are here. In the rich history Liverpool has, they have had many of these evenings.”
Salah was omitted from Liverpool’s travelling party to Milan. The Athletic reported on Monday that the call was taken by sporting director Richard Hughes in conjunction with the club’s ownership and head coach Slot, which would underline their support of the Dutchman.
Slot then said in the pre-match press conference on Monday that he had “no clue” whether Salah would play for Liverpool again.
Asked on Prime if the last few days had taken a toll on his players, Slot added: “It was really hard for the players to concede in the last minute against Leeds when in my opinion we played a very good game and hardly conceded a chance.
“That was already emotional. And what happened afterwards (Salah) was emotional as well, it cost maybe a little bit of energy.
“Conceding the 3-3 in extra time is already hard to take when you are so close to picking up seven points in three games. Then of course there’s a lot of things being said and that always affects a team a bit as well.
“OK, it’s about the player with the manager or with the club, but that normally affects players a bit as well, especially because he (Salah) has been so, so, so influential for the club and for the players. It’s never nice to see something like this happen to one of their teammates.”
Salah is due to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations after Liverpool’s game with Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, which the Egyptian suggested last weekend could be his last game for the club.
Asked on Prime whether he was going to try and effect a reconciliation between Salah and the club, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk replied: “The reality also is that Mo is going to Africa at the weekend.
“I’ve known Mo for a long time, we’re good friends, we’ve been through highs and lows. He’s been a big part of the success I’ve had at the club and I’ve been a big part of his success, as we all have.
“We speak and those types of things will stay indoors as they should. But we as a team and group of players have to brace ourselves and be against the outside noise.
“It’s difficult but it’s a collective difficult situation. Between Mo and the club, things are going on and obviously the consequences are that he’s not here today trying to help us get the three points. That’s the reality but I don’t think anything changes in terms of our focus or our determination to get results for the football club.”
On Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, former Liverpool defender and pundit Jamie Carragher called Salah’s interview a “disgrace” aimed to “create maximum damage.”
Earlier on Tuesday, and a few hours before the game at the San Siro, Salah posted a picture on Instagram of himself in the gym. Carragher responded to Salah’s picture on X (formerly known as Twitter), saying: “I’m not sure I’ve wanted Liverpool to win a game more than tonight for a long time. Come on, you mighty Reds.”