Liverpool manager Arne Sloat has insisted there is "no problem to solve" in his relationship with Egyptian star Mohamed Salah, following the team's hard-fought 2-0 victory over Brighton on Saturday in the English Premier League. These comments were intended to ease tensions after a turbulent week marked by fiery remarks from the Egyptian forward and apparent strain within Anfield.
The return of the immediate influence of the Egyptian king
Mohamed Salah came on as a substitute in the 26th minute, taking advantage of Joe Gomez's injury, and quickly demonstrated his immense talent. It wasn't long before Salah set up a goal for his French teammate Ugo Ekiete, who opened the scoring for the Reds. Salah also took the corner kick that led to the second goal in the 60th minute, proving that his focus remains on the pitch despite the media attention.
Background to the crisis: A tense week in Liverpool
These developments come after a difficult week for the team, during which Salah accused the club of "abandoning" him after being benched in the thrilling 3-3 draw against Leeds United – his third consecutive match without a start. Adding insult to injury, he told reporters he had "no relationship" with manager Slott, which led to his exclusion from the squad traveling to Milan for the Champions League, a match Liverpool won 1-0.
Big clubs like Liverpool are known for requiring high managerial acumen to manage star-studded dressing rooms, especially during coaching transitions, as each side seeks to impose its style and personality, which seems to have happened in the brief clash between Slaught and Salah.
Sloth: Actions speak louder than words
In the post-match press conference, Slott sought to downplay the situation, saying: "For me, he's just like any other player now. You talk to your players if you're happy or unhappy about certain things, but I have nothing to say after what happened against Leeds." The Feyenoord manager added his philosophy on handling crises: "I think actions speak louder than words. He was in the squad again, and when I had to make my first substitution, I brought him on. And today he delivered the performance every fan wants, myself included.".
Future challenges and the Africa Cup of Nations
This reconciliation is of paramount importance to Liverpool, especially as the team faces a crucial period during which Salah (33 years old) will be absent to participate with the Egyptian national team in the Africa Cup of Nations being held in Morocco. The length of the team's top scorer's absence depends on how far the Pharaohs progress in the tournament, which concludes on January 18.
Regarding the rumors of Salah's departure, especially after he invited his family to attend the match and walked around to greet the fans, Slott commented with a laugh: "He wasn't the only player who walked around the stadium to thank the fans... Mo is now going to the Africa Cup of Nations, and I hope he does well there, and we have to play here without him.".
