Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker will speak privately with Mohamed Salah after the star claimed the club ‘threw him under the bus’ and was dropped from the squad
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker has confessed that he hasn’t yet had a chat with Mohamed Salah following the latter’s explosive interview on Saturday, but is determined to concentrate on the Champions League despite his dissatisfaction with the current situation.
Salah, who accused Liverpool of “throwing him under the bus” and claimed that his relationship with head coach Arne Slot was non-existent, was left out of the squad for the upcoming match against Inter Milan. Despite training with his Liverpool teammates on Monday, Slot informed Salah that he wouldn’t be making the trip to Italy.
Slot, when asked about his conversation with Salah, simply laughed it off as a “short” discussion, promising to evaluate the situation once Liverpool return home. Alisson, who shares a close bond with Salah, plans to have a word with the winger, but maintains his support for Slot as Liverpool’s head coach.
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Following Slot’s press conference, Alisson faced reporters and was questioned about whether he had discussed Salah’s Saturday interview. “I didn’t speak to Mo about it,” Alisson admitted.
“We spend so much time together, not so much away from the training ground, but there’s a bond. I will speak with him, but that will be private.”
When probed for his take on the situation, Alisson acknowledged his admiration for Salah’s contributions over the years and expressed his discontent over the disruption in the squad.
“It’s not an easy situation,” Alisson conceded. “I’ve been playing with Mo since I came to Europe. He’s a great guy, a legend for LFC. We achieved so many things together.
“It doesn’t make me happy, but we have a big challenge tomorrow. Our focus is on that.”
Given the current state of the situation, Slot hasn’t yet had an in-depth discussion with Salah regarding his remarks. The manager confessed that he was unaware of any rift until Saturday evening and wants to hear Salah’s perspective first-hand.
Time is of the essence, though, as Salah is due to link up with Egypt for the African Cup of Nations on 15 December, leaving Slot with a narrow window to mend fences. When asked about Salah’s future involvement, Slot was candid but cautiously optimistic: “I’m a firm believer that there is always a possibility to return for a player.”
The notion that Salah may have already worn the Liverpool shirt for the last time seems unfathomable, and goalkeeper Alisson is hoping this proves to be merely a minor setback rather than an irreparable split.
“I hope he plays for the club again, but that’s a situation between Mo and the club,” the goalkeeper said. “I don’t think his goal was to disrespect anyone. He had the freedom to talk how he feels about his own situation. Now it’s important how we react.”
While Salah’s emotions may have been running high after finding himself on the substitutes’ bench for the third consecutive match, he maintains that assurances about his playing time were part of the two-year contract extension he penned last season.
Following a 3-3 stalemate with Leeds which saw him unused, Salah questioned: “Now I’m sitting on the bench, and I don’t know why.
“It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That is how I am feeling. I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame.”
