Liverpool manager Arne Slot says Mohamed Salah is “always on my mind” even though the Egyptian star has not started Liverpool’s last two matches.
Salah, 33, has scored only four goals during Liverpool’s poor start to the Premier League season and has played just 45 minutes across the last two games. BBC Sport sources also say that clubs in the Saudi Pro League are still interested in signing him, even after he agreed a new two-year deal in April.
Slot said on Friday: "Every player is in my thoughts to start, and Mo is an exceptional player for us. He’s always on my mind, whether to start him or bring him on as a substitute."
Salah scored 29 goals last season as Liverpool won the title in Slot’s first year in charge. But he stayed on the bench when Liverpool beat West Ham last Sunday, and again started as a substitute in Wednesday’s 1–1 draw with Sunderland.
It’s still unclear whether Salah will return to the starting line-up for Saturday’s match against Leeds United.
Slot said he understands why people are talking about Salah being dropped:
"Of course there’s chatter — he deserves that because he’s been so important for me and for six or seven years. It’s normal people talk when he isn’t playing."
Salah was heavily linked with a move to Al-Ittihad before he signed his new Liverpool contract, which runs until 2027. Since joining Liverpool in 2017, he has scored 250 goals in 420 games.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said this week that Slot dropping Salah shows that no player has “unlimited credit” at the club.
"He’s still a fantastic player. We all know why he’s been so successful here, and we should respect that," Van Dijk said.
"I need him around as one of the leaders. Of course he’s disappointed — any player would be after being left out twice."
Liverpool go into the weekend sitting ninth in the Premier League table, 11 points behind leaders Arsenal, with only two wins in their last nine league matches.
