Arne Slot has prompt Mohamed Salah will return to the Liverpool beginning line-up towards Marseille in Wednesday’s Champions League tie, insisting his relationship with the ahead is “as regular because it’s at all times been”.
Salah final began for Liverpool within the 4-1 dwelling defeat by PSV Eindhoven in November, however scored 4 objectives on the Africa Cup of Nations the place his Egypt facet completed fourth.
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The 33-year-old shortly earlier than departing for Afcon, during which he claimed “somebody would not need me within the membership” and he not had any relationship with Slot after being dropped.
Requested if he had an opportunity to replicate on the scenario with Salah after the occasions in December, Slot mentioned: “There’s been a second within the season the place I made a decision to not play Mo.
“And one second the place I made a decision to not take him to the sport [against Inter Milan]. For all the opposite video games, he is been within the squad and he was the primary substitution towards Brighton so, at that second of time, there’s by no means been a difficulty for me.
“The primary time he is capable of be within the squad once more, he’s as a result of he skilled as we speak and is within the squad for tomorrow. Let’s examine the line-up tomorrow for those who nonetheless assume there’s a difficulty.”
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Slot’s facet have been unbeaten throughout Salah’s time in Morocco, however the Dutchman admitted he was “blissful” to have Liverpool’s file Champions League goalscorer out there once more.
“I’m actually blissful and happy he’s again,” added Slot. “In his absence I believe we have now executed fairly OK when it comes to hardly conceding any probabilities and beginning to create increasingly more.
“Should you create increasingly more, then it’s actually useful to have Mohamed Salah. There has solely been one who scored extra for this membership [who is alive] however I do not assume I can play Ian Rush nonetheless! Then it’s actually useful to have him again.”
Requested about his relationship with Salah, he mentioned: “It is as regular because it’s at all times been, with one exception and that was Inter Milan.
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“I spoke to him as we speak and I am blissful to have him again as a result of this season I’ve solely had two wingers who’ve performed greater than 100 minutes within the Premier League and that is Mo and Cody [Gakpo].
“Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz can even play in these positions, but when I requested Florian what was his favorite place he would not say left or proper wing. Jeremie could be the identical, however he is proven what he can do off the correct facet.
“I noticed as we speak that Mo has 45 objectives for Liverpool within the Champions League and the following highest is Virgil van Dijk with 5. So it’s good to have him again, particularly if he is ready to attain these ranges that introduced him 45 objectives once more.”
Liverpool have taken a 20-man squad to Marseille, with Ibrahima Konate not within the touring get together because of a household matter.
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The sport towards Robert de Zerbi’s facet will affect their hopes of ending within the high eight and avoiding two further ties within the knockout part play-offs subsequent month. The Reds host Qarabag of their remaining recreation within the group part on Wednesday, 28 January.
Slot solutions Alonso rumours and boos
Throughout his press convention on the Stade Velodrome in Marseille, Slot was bizarrely requested about rumours linking Xabi Alonso to Liverpool, following the Spaniard’s departure as Actual Madrid boss final week.
“Sure, he known as me and mentioned, what do you concentrate on the group as a result of I’m going to take over in six months, are you able to inform me a little bit bit extra?” joked Slot.
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“Or perhaps earlier, perhaps he takes over tomorrow. No, this is among the weirdest questions I ever bought. What’s there I say?
“I’m working right here for a little bit bit a couple of and a half years and I actually like my work over right here. We gained the [Premier] League final season, struggled extra within the league this season. That can be apparent so sure what’s there left to say?
“On the boos [at Anfield in the 1-1 draw against Burnley]? Possibly I heard just a few however it wasn’t as if it was so much. I additionally assume it is utterly regular that for those who draw at dwelling to Burnley that no-one is blissful about that.
“However I believe the second the individuals went dwelling, when feelings calmed down, they most likely thought within the one and a half years I’ve been at Liverpool, we have now by no means created so many probabilities towards a low block as we did in that recreation.
“Possibly it was a little bit bit extra constructive than the consequence confirmed however we’re in a outcomes enterprise and I do know that.”