In his pre-match press conference ahead of Liverpool’s trip to the Etihad for the FA Cup quarter final, Arne Slot confirmed that Mohamed Salah is fit and available for the Reds:
He is [fit]. He trained with us yesterday, he will train with us today and is available for the game tomorrow. I think what has happened after he announced it is what he completely deserves. His teammates, anyone everywhere around the world that was asked about his legacy said the words that needed to be said. It’s been unbelievable
what he did for this club for so many years every three days, scoring the goals he did, having the assists, having the impact he had on this club, winning the trophies. I saw a beautiful photo of him in front of all of the trophies he’s won individually and as a team, and I can only hope that he can add two extra trophies to it towards the end of the season.
After this confirmation the press wanted to know if Slot felt the announcement of his departure could add to Liverpool’s (and Salah’s) hunger for success in the final phase of the season. Slot was unwilling to give us a romantic quotation, however, emphasizing instead the effort levels that the Egyptian has given for Liverpool throughout his career with the Reds:
For the club, maybe [the announcement gives a boost]. For Mo, I think it doesn’t matter if he’s going to leave the club or if he’s going to stay. That’s what he’s shown in all these eight or nine years – that he was always available in his best possible shape. And that doesn’t change, not in a positive way now he’s leaving in the end because Mo has always given everything he’s got for this club in all the years that he’s been here. So, I would hope that he could give maybe even more but that’s not realistic because he always gave everything he had, and he will try doing that until the end of the season. If we have a Mo in the form he’s had for so many years, that will be a big help for us towards the end of the season.
Any element that might improve the mentality of the team is certainly welcome at this point, though, with Liverpool’s mentality having left a lot to be desired thus far in 2025/26. The Reds need to have their heads on straight should they hope to lift some silverware in May.
