Liverpool's recent Champions League victory over Inter Milan was overshadowed by the ongoing situation with Mohamed Salah. Dominik Szoboszlai's late penalty secured a 1-0 win at San Siro, but much of the attention
remained on Salah and his relationship with manager Arne Slot. Salah's absence from the match followed a heated post-match interview after Liverpool's 3-3 draw with Leeds United.
Salah's comments suggested a strained relationship with Slot, claiming he felt unsupported by the club. This led to his exclusion from the squad for the Inter match. Slot acknowledged that questions about Salah would dominate discussions, stating, "I fully understand that on Friday, in the press conference, all the questions will be about Mo. " He pondered whether reconciliation should be initiated by him or Salah.
Despite Salah's absence, Liverpool achieved their first away Champions League win without him since November 2009 against Debreceni VSC. The victory was crucial as it kept Liverpool in contention for advancing in the competition. Slot remarked on the importance of securing three points against a strong Inter team, emphasizing that 15 points are typically needed to reach the top eight.
2009 - Liverpool have won an away UEFA Champions League match without Mohamed Salah featuring for the first time since November 2009 at Debrecen, in what was Jamie Carragher's last ever Champions League match for the club. Choreographed. pic.twitter.com/IbSeymbWbC OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 9, 2025
The aftermath of Liverpool's draw with Leeds United was challenging for both players and management. Ao Tanaka's late equaliser for Leeds came after Hugo Ekitike had put Liverpool ahead with two goals. Slot expressed how difficult it was for players to concede so late in the game and how emotions ran high following these events.
Slot highlighted that despite having experienced players available, conceding late affected everyone involved. He noted that such incidents impact players because of Salah's significant influence at the club. The emotional toll of these events added complexity to managing team dynamics and morale.
The focus now shifts to resolving internal issues while maintaining performance levels on the field. As Liverpool navigates through this period, balancing player relationships and competitive success remains crucial for Slot and his team.
