Arne Slot has thrown the spotlight back onto Mohamed Salah, suggesting the Liverpool star may need to initiate their next conversation after a weekend interview that shook the club.
Speaking after Liverpool’s tense 1–0 Champions League win at Inter Milan, Slot made it clear he is not rushing to mend fences, hinting that responsibility now lies partly with the player who accused the club of throwing him under the bus just three days earlier.
Liverpool’s decision to leave Salah out of the squad on Tuesday came less than 72 hours after the forward publicly revealed that his relationship with Slot had deteriorated. Salah told broadcasters after the 3–3 draw with Leeds United that he felt scapegoated and ignored. Slot acknowledged on Monday that he had not spoken meaningfully with Salah since those remarks, framing the silence as a deliberate pause rather than a final break.
The tension arrived at a critical moment for Liverpool. Their season has opened with damaging stumbles and a wave of questions about leadership, identity, and direction under their new Dutch manager. Tuesday’s win offered some relief but also raised deeper questions about the club’s internal dynamics and the future of its most high profile player.
With Salah absent, Dominik Szoboszlai took over penalty duties and coolly converted the late winning spot kick at San Siro. The trust placed in the Hungarian midfielder underscored how quickly the hierarchy can shift when a superstar’s status becomes uncertain.
Asked whether he intended to meet Salah in the coming days, Slot offered a pointed response. He said players also need to reflect on their decisions before expecting reconciliation. He posed his own question in return, asking whether the first step should come from manager or player. It was a rhetorical move that made his position unmistakably clear without stating it outright.
Pressed again by reporters, Slot referenced Clarence Seedorf’s comments on the broadcast, noting the former midfielder believed Salah should take the initiative. Slot avoided endorsing the opinion directly but did not dismiss it either. Instead, he redirected attention to the players who delivered at San Siro, reminding everyone that Liverpool’s long history is built on nights where unity matters more than individual disputes.
Slot admitted that hearing his name sung loudly by the travelling fans moved him. He credited their backing as essential during a moment he described as difficult for the club. The applause also signaled something more. Supporters appear intent on defending the manager while Salah’s standing feels more fluid than at any point in his Liverpool career.
Liverpool’s domestic struggles remain significant. A stuttering start to the Premier League title defence leaves them tenth, yet they remain only three points behind Crystal Palace for the final Champions League qualification spot for next season. The win at Inter pushed them to eighth place in the UCL league phase with twelve points from six games, offering a rare piece of momentum in an uneven campaign.
Attention now turns to Saturday when Liverpool host Brighton at Anfield. Slot declined to reveal whether Salah will be in the squad. The decision may signal much more than simple match selection. It could tell supporters whether the rift is healing or widening.
The unanswered question remains simple. Who speaks first. And what happens if neither of them does.