Mohamed Salah decision made by Arne Slot after explosive Liverpool feud | Football | Sport

Mohamed Salah has been named on the bench for Liverpool’s match against Brighton following his reintegration into the squad by Arne Slot. The 33-year-old was omitted from Tuesday’s Champions League victory over Inter Milan, a 1-0 win in which club officials decided to leave him at home.

This followed Salah’s public criticism of Liverpool for ‘throwing him under the bus’ and his claim that ‘someone’ was pushing for his departure. The Egyptian also revealed he has ‘no relationship’ with Slot after being dropped for three consecutive matches, including remaining on the bench throughout the 3-3 draw at Leeds United last Saturday.

With the Africa Cup of Nations commencing next week, the forward suggested the Brighton fixture could be his final Anfield appearance before a possible January departure. However, after discussions on Friday, Salah has been included amongst the substitutes.

At his pre-match press conference, Slot remained tight-lipped about the forward’s return whilst confirming he’d held talks with Salah’s representative, Colombian solicitor Ramy Abbas Issa, during the week.

“We’ve spoken a lot in the last week,” Slot revealed. “After the Sunderland game I think there have been a lot of conversations between his representatives and our representatives, and between him and me after the Sunderland game. And today I will speak to him again.”

The Liverpool boss also revealed that the decision to rest Salah for the midweek match was a collective one.

“I think we decided as a club and I was part of that decision not to take him to the Inter Milan game,” Slot shared. “I’m always in contact with them, but when it comes to the decision-making of the lineup or the squad they always leave that open to me.”

Slot further clarified his relationship with the club’s hierarchy: “But that’s not to say that I don’t talk to them – mainly Richard [Hughes], by the way, not Michael [Edwards] – but I talk to Richard about so many things. The decision to play a player or to have him in the squad, as I’ve experienced it until now and I think this will never change, is entirely up to me.”