“Do you want Mohamed Salah to stay at Liverpool?”

Questions about the hottest topic of the moment, Mohamed Salah's exclusion from the team after the Egyptian's unprecedented outburst, could not be missing. Last weekend, after the 3-3 draw with Leeds, a match in which he was left on the bench, Salah said that is “made a scapegoat, considered the problem in the team”, that the relationship with coach Arne Slot “no longer exists” and that “someone no longer wants me at the club”.

As a result of the war he declared with the management and the staff, Salah was excluded from the squad for the Champions League match with Inter Milan (1-0). Now the question on everyone's lips is whether the Egyptian will return to the starting line-up for Saturday's match against Brighton, the last before he leaves for the national team for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Arne Slot: “I don't see any reason why I wouldn't want Mo Salah to stay”

Arne Slot was questioned about this topic at the press conference.

“Who made the decision in Salah's case? I think we decided at club level, and I was part of this decision, not to take him to Inter. I'm talking to Richard Hughes (no – the sports director) more than with Michael Edwards (no – the CEO), we talk about many things.

If I want to stay? That's another way of asking [același lucru] but the next time I talk about Mo, it will be with him. I see no reason why I wouldn't want him to stay“.

Endo, Gakpo, maybe Isak will be missing

Afterwards, Slot was asked about players who have recently faced or are still facing medical issues.

Of Wataru Endo and Cody Gakpo, he said “it's going to be weeks before they come back. Cody has a muscle injury and Wata has an ankle.”

As for his new attacking coupleconsisting of Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak, stated: “What we all saw, which is normal, the more they play, the more they will adapt and cooperate better.

The other two forwards on the pitch, Inter's, were more used to playing together. It's the second time they've played together and I think we'll see more of that in the future. Alex took a hit in the first half so let's see if he can start tomorrow. Alexi [Isak] he got a knock in the first half, so let's see how he recovers today and if he can start tomorrow.”

I don't think height tells you that a player is perfectly equipped for that direct style of play. Some are tall and struggle, some are not and dominate. Alex and Hugo, you can use them better in the back spaces than with long balls to their bodies. I can see Hugo trying to do this better and better, but there is still room for improvement, as with so many parts of our game.

– Arne Slott

Arne Slot: “I'm almost glad to be out of the League Cup”

Slot also commented on the loaded calendar. Liverpool remained engaged in 3 competitions, after the assumed elimination from the League Cup. Slot sent an experimental formula onto the pitch and was knocked out by Crystal Palace, 0-3.

“It's helpful in the coming weeks that we won't be playing as many games as before. I wonder if there are any other teams that have played three games in seven days this season. We've had to do that three times already this season.

I'm almost glad we got out of the League Cup because if we had to play with 13 available outfield players with any Premier League experience, and we had to go to Arsenal away on Tuesday after so many games already played, then maybe people would understand a bit better why I made that starting line-up against Crystal Palace.

It wasn't good for me, but I made that decision for the team. Losing a football match is never a good idea, but sometimes players also need rest,” says the Dutchman.