SLOT SET FOR TALKS WITH SALAH BEFORE DECIDING FORWARD’S FATE

LONDON, Dec 12 (Bernama-PA Media/dpa) -- Liverpool head coach Arne Slot will have the final say on whether to bring Mohamed Salah back into his squad, but that will depend on the outcome of his next conversation with the forward, reported PA Media/dpa.

The Egypt international was omitted from the Champions League trip to Milan in midweek following his explosive comments last weekend.

Salah had said that his relationship with the Dutchman had broken down and that he had been “thrown under the bus” in response to recent games’ results, and suggested Saturday’s visit of Brighton could be his last match at Anfield.

That decision was taken after talks between Slot, sporting director Richard Hughes and other members of the club hierarchy, and while Slot and Hughes will speak again the final call again will be made by the Dutchman.

Slot said he had “no reasons not wanting him to stay” but suggested there would have to be some form of reconciliation from Salah for him to be reintegrated in what would be his last game before heading for the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday.

The head coach said he will have a conversation with Mo, and that conversation will determine the outcome, he added, while declining to elaborate further.

“We have spoken a lot in the last week after the Sunderland game. There were multiple conversations between his representatives and ours, our representatives and him, between him and me, and today I will speak to him again.”

“I think we decided as a club – and I was part of that decision – not to take him to Inter Milan, and I am always in contact with them, but when it comes to the decision-making of the line-up or the squad, they always leave it open to me.

“That is not to say I don’t talk to them, mainly Richard, not Michael (Edwards, chief executive of football for owners Fenway Sports Group) – but I talk to him about so many things. The decision to play a player or have him in the squad, as has always been the case and I believe will never change, is entirely up to me.”

In Salah’s absence, a depleted team beat Inter Milan 1-0 in a solid away performance, which made it two wins and two draws in the last four matches – all without the Egyptian in the starting line-up.

On Tuesday night, the Dutchman used a diamond midfield formation, allowing him to start £200 million (US$268 million) worth of attacking talent in Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike for only the second time.

While it could hardly be considered a roaring success, Slot is hopeful to give them more chances.

“The more they play together, the more they will adapt to one another and the better they will cooperate,” he added.

“I saw promising things from both of them. It’s only the second time they’ve played together. We will see more of them playing together in the future.

“Alex took a knock in the first half, so let’s see how he recovers from that today and if he can start tomorrow.”

Fellow forward Federico Chiesa has recovered from illness and will rejoin the squad.

--BERNAMA-PA Media/dpa