Arne Slot could see the potential headlines forming immediately after he made the off-hand comment. He moved quickly to rectify it.
“It’s not the headline. Mo [Salah] was frustrated, but his behavior was normal; we shook hands,” the Liverpool manager explained. Just a minute or so before, Slot had claimed Salah was clearly ‘not happy’ to be replaced in the latter stages against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.
Nearly a year on from Salah’s infamous touchline spat with Jurgen Klopp at the London Stadium, and with the player’s contract ticking ever-closer to its expiration date, Slot’s careful retraction was advisable.
As was the decision to replace the Egyptian in the first place. Forty-seven seconds after his withdrawal at the Parc des Princes, Harvey Elliott slotted past Gianluigi Donnarumma to net the only goal of the first leg, although, as Slot acknowledged, Salah would have backed himself to finish from that position too.
With the form Liverpool’s No .11 has exhibited this season, he will feel confident of scoring every week – but particularly so when facing the side bottom of the table. Saturday’s opponent Southampton has conceded more than any other side this season – an average of higher than two per game, and its defense has been breached 11 times across the last three matches.
Salah, hunting down a Premier League best for goal involvements and assists in a single campaign, plus his own personal highest goal tally, wants to play every minute to maximise his chances. Slot is clearly happy to oblige and keep his star man happy.
The 32-year-old has started every league match this season, playing the full 90 on 20 occasions and only once has he been withdrawn before the 80th minute. Salah will be licking his lips at the prospect of facing Southampton on Saturday. But, for once, it might be in Slot’s best interest to disappoint his most potent attacker.
(Image: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
The Dutchman was keen to emphasize on Friday that Southampton, regardless of league position, is the most important game that Liverpool faces, referring to it as the first of ‘three finals’ Liverpool plays in eight days, with the second leg against PSG and the Carabao Cup final on the horizon next week. He also called on Liverpool’s home fans to create an intimidating atmosphere on Saturday, while he compared the Saints’ playing style to that of PSG, who so impressively infuriated Liverpool on Wednesday.
But there was another telling admission. “If there would be three, four, five days in between these two games [PSG and Southampton], I would probably have started the same XI again. Since there are only two days in between and we had to work really hard in the first game, it’s probably the 50th game in three months, you take that into account.”
(Image: Getty Images)
Taking into account Salah’s fitness levels will certainly be key to the Reds’ chances of success between now and the end of the season – any injury could prove disastrous. Slot has indicated changes will come against Southampton and, while Salah did enjoy a week off between the Newcastle United and PSG matches, Saturday feels like the prime opportunity for him to play a reduced role, or perhaps even start on the bench.
There are options available as well, and Slot admitted in Friday’s press conference that Harvey Elliott deserves more game time, while Darwin Nunez might come into the front three. Could Southampton even be an opportunity for Federico Chiesa to make his maiden league start?
Maybe, but with the PSG and Newcastle clashes around the corner, having Salah at his optimal is imperative. He might not like it, but dropping out of the team on Saturday could be in the player’s best interests.
