MOHAMED SALAH HEADS FOR SHOWDOWN TALKS WITH LIVERPOOL MANAGER ARNE SLOT THIS MORNING
Liverpool boss Arne Slot will hold showdown talks with Mohamed Salah this morning.
The forward was left at home for the Reds' trip – and 1-0 victory – to Inter Milan this week after Salah spoke out about Slot, the club and the hierarchy last Saturday by saying he had been 'thrown under the bus' and had 'no relationship' with the head coach.
It had led some, including Salah speaking last week, to think that this weekend's match with Brighton will be his final one for the club.
But Slot said: 'I will have a conversation with Mo this morning and the outcome of that conversation determines how it will look tomorrow.'
He later added: 'I have no reasons not wanting him to stay, if that is a little bit of an answer.'
Slot also revealed the decision to drop Salah from the San Siro clash included club sporting director Richard Hughes and owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG).
He continued: 'We decided as a club and I was part of that decision not to take him to the Inter Milan game. When it comes to the decision-making of the line-up or the squad, that is down to me but that is not to say I don't talk to them (Hughes and FSG).'
Salah stunned the footballing world when he spoke with reporters in Elland Road's mixed zone after he started three consecutive games from the bench.
'I'm very disappointed,' the 33-year-old said. 'I've done so much for this club - everyone can see that - over years, especially last season, sitting on the bench I don't know why. It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That's how I feel it.
'It's very clear that someone wants me to take all the blame. The club promised me a lot in summer. So far I am on bench for three games, so I can't say they have kept those promises.
'I say many times I had a good relationship with the manager and all of a sudden we don't have any relationship, I don't know why. It seems like someone does not want me in the club.'
His comments sparked discourse from club legends Jamie Carragher - who labelled Salah a 'disgrace' in the aftermath - and Steven Gerrard who said it was 'wrong' to claim he had been thrown under the bus.
Alan Shearer has also claimed he believes Salah will never play for Liverpool again and after 'tarnishing' his legacy at the club.
Asked whether he believes Salah will play for Liverpool again, Shearer told Betfair: 'I think that depends on Mo himself in terms of whether he's prepared to back down and accept that he shouldn't have done it if he wants to play for Liverpool again.
'I've been through all the reasons why I think he did it and I understand his attitude and how he feels because I've been there myself. I've felt everything he feels when I got left out of the Sunderland game.
'The big difference is that he shouldn't have gone to the world press to say that. I guess he has to come out and apologise although I'm not sure I see that happening. My belief is that he may not play for Liverpool again.'
Liverpool will be without Cody Gakpo for the game against Brighton but fellow forward Federico Chiesa is set to return after illness. Alexander Isak has a knock.
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