New Mo Salah theory emerges at Liverpool after clear Gerrard verdict | Football | Sport
Former Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam reckons Mohamed Salah and Arne Slot have resolved their differences following the forward’s controversial remarks before heading to the Africa Cup of Nations. Supporters feared they might have witnessed Salah’s final appearance in a Liverpool shirt when he departed for the tournament in December.
Yet the 33-year-old made his much-anticipated comeback on Wednesday evening in Marseille. What’s more, Slot selected him in the starting line-up for a crucial 3-0 victory that puts Liverpool firmly in control of securing automatic qualification for the Champions League last 16. The head coach was quick to praise Salah’s professionalism, and harmony appears to have been restored on Merseyside as the forward looks to find the net again in this weekend’s Premier League clash against Bournemouth.
“Salah’s had four weeks to reflect and think about what he’s done and said but I think the talks would have been cleared before he left for AFCON because they didn’t want to come back to that,” Adam told BBC Sport. “If there were still problems, he wouldn’t have played today (vs Marseille).”
Salah had previously been benched for three consecutive Premier League matches, making only one appearance as a substitute. Following a 3-3 draw with Leeds United in early December, he spoke to the media claiming he had been “thrown under the bus” by Liverpool amid a strained relationship with his head coach during the team’s poor performance streak.
In response, Slot dropped Salah for a Champions League match against Inter Milan while clear-the-air discussions took place behind closed doors. Steven Gerrard also weighed in on the situation this week, telling TNT Sports that all parties involved need to find a way to move forward together.
“I think the break for both parties, Liverpool and Salah, when they had their disagreement, came at a good time with AFCON, where they could both breathe and digest the fallout. With time, you would like to think it’s a fresh start for both. The manager has shown faith in him tonight by putting him straight into the line-up.
“I think that’s the right decision on the back of the weekend because they are looking for that killer instinct in the box. I think you need to move on.
“These things happen; it’s a man’s game. Managers have to make big decisions. Players are emotional, every player wants to play every game, especially Mo Salah, what he delivered last year, he is such an iconic figure at the club.
“There is probably a part of Mo that feels he should be an automatic pick every game. You can understand that in Mo’s shoes, but the manager has to make tough decisions. Mo wasn’t in good form, so he is well within his rights to put him on the bench or not play him, or not bring him on.
“These fallouts happen; I’ve experienced it before with other players and it’s important that you both move on from it as quick as you can because the most important thing is the team and the club.
“Liverpool need Mo Salah and they need him playing well, on fire, scoring goals because they are in a better place but need to stop getting these draws that are hijacking them getting to where they should be, which is push further up the Premier League and be higher up in this league as well.”
