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Liverpoolvs.B. Leverkusen

sportsmole.co.uk, 4 November 2024, 17:58
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has offered his reaction to Mohamed Salah's mysterious social media post after the Reds' 2-1 comeback win over Brighton & Hove Albion.

The 32-year-old completed the Liverpool turnaround in Saturday's Premier League clash, cutting inside and finding the top corner following earlier strikes from Ferdi Kadioglu and Cody Gakpo.

Salah's seventh goal of the Premier League season lifted Liverpool back into first place in the top-flight table, two points above Manchester City following the champions' shock 2-1 loss at Bournemouth.

However, Salah's social media activity stole the headlines on Sunday, as the 32-year-old publicly touched on his uncertain contract situation on X, claiming that he would always cherish scoring at Anfield "no matter what happens".

It is well-documented that the former Chelsea and Roma attacker is out of contract at the end of the season, meaning that from January onwards, he will be free to open pre-contract talks with foreign teams.

Slot unconcerned by Salah social media post

Salah is still believed to be a priority target for the Saudi Pro League after Al-Ittihad failed with a last-ditch £150m offer in the summer of 2023, but speaking to the media ahead of Tuesday's Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen, Slot cut a relaxed figure when asked what the winger's post could mean.

"You interpreted in a way [that] maybe other people don't. I don't look at the Instagram posts of my players. I only talk to them, which you can't, so that is the advantage I have... Mo is in a very good place at the moment," Slot said.

"As long as he has been here at Liverpool he has been in a very good place but this season again as well. I am hoping he will post one after tomorrow [against Leverkusen] and on Saturday again [against Aston Villa] and what he says with that for me is not important.

"The only thing that is important for me is how he plays and what he tells me when we have conversations and that's what matters and not how you guys interpret one of his posts. I haven't spoken about him, we've spoken about Leverkusen because that team deserves all of our attention for the quality they have.

"He is out of contract in the end of the season and Virgil [van Dijk] said something in the press and now he [Salah] has a post that you interpreted in a certain way. This will probably continue for as long as their futures are not clear yet. But in the meantime, let's hope that they bring in performances like Mo had and Virgil had as well during the weekend."

Slot confirms huge Liverpool injury boost for Leverkusen clash

As well as commenting on Salah's future, Slot also confirmed that Ibrahima Konate was fit and available for selection after the French centre-back came off at half time against Brighton with an arm injury.

Konate had to use his shirt as a makeshift sling after an accident involving Virgil van Dijk, but he issued a positive update on social media over the weekend and was pictured in training on Monday morning.

"Yeah, he is available to play. And I think also completely recovered, so there is no issue for him to not play because of what he had," Slot added on Konate. "Then it is up to me to make the decision if he plays or not. But he is in a good place."

Liverpool should therefore only be without long-term absentees Alisson Becker, Federico Chiesa, Harvey Elliott and Diogo Jota on Tuesday evening, but two of their regular starters are at risk of missing the clash with Real Madrid on November 27 if they are booked against Leverkusen.

Slot's team are just one of two sides - alongside Aston Villa - to take nine points from their first three games of the 2024-25 Champions League season, leaving them second in the 36-team table, only behind the Lions on goal difference.

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