Mohamed Salah came off the bench in Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Brighton after an explosive interview, but teammate Ibrahima Konate insisted the forward will remain at Anfield.
Liverpool central defender Ibrahima Konate is confident Mohamed Salah will not play in his final game for the Reds. Salah set up Hugo Ekitike’s second goal in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield.
The striker has been in the media spotlight following a candid interview following last weekend’s 3-3 draw with Leeds United. Salah said he felt “thrown under the bus” and also referred to his strained relationship with Liverpool manager Arne Slott.
The 33-year-old has been on the bench in recent weeks and was notably absent from Liverpool’s squad against Inter Milan in midweek. However, following discussions with Slott, Salah returned to the matchday squad for this weekend’s game against Brighton, replacing the injured Joe Gomez in the first half.
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The Egyptian star is currently scheduled to take part in the African Cup of Nations in Morocco during the January transfer window. And in an interview with French television channel Canal+, Konate expressed his belief that Saturday’s game against Brighton will not be a positive result for Salah for Liverpool.
“Personally, no, I don’t think so. Today you could see how much he (Salah) loves this club,” he said.
“What happened to him is that you have to understand the frustration that players who have had such a long career and achieved so much sometimes feel. He’s a player that everyone loves, the manager loves him, he loves the manager and everyone loves each other at this club.”
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Meanwhile, Slott denied claims that Salah could have played his last game for the Reds, insisting he believed the situation with the Liverpool talisman had been resolved.
“No, there are no issues to resolve for me,” he said in the post-match press conference. “For me, he is just like any other player.
“I talk to the players about whether they are happy or dissatisfied with things, but after the game I have nothing to say about what happened against Leeds. The reason he wasn’t at Milan was the interview. Everyone has a different opinion on that, whether he’s been there once, twice, three times, four times, four months or 12 years.
“Every manager makes a different decision on that. He wasn’t involved in the game against Milan, but I spoke to him yesterday. I don’t usually say anything about what we talk about, so I’m not going to make an exception now.”
“What was said between the two of us in that conversation will remain between us. What you saw, you will know. He was in the team and was my first substitute.”
“And everything else was talked about in that conversation, but I never talk about it. When I talk to Virgil or Mo or any of the other players, I never tell you guys what we talk about.
“But actions speak louder than what is said. He was in the team again and when I had to make the first substitution, I brought him in and he wanted to perform today, as all the fans, including myself, wanted him to do.”
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