Arne Slot shares Mohamed Salah reaction to Liverpool dropping and names AFCON exit date

Arne Slot

Arne Slot has admitted that Mohamed Salah was not happy to be left out of his Liverpool starting XI for the victory over West Ham United as he also revealed when the Egyptian will depart for the Africa Cup of Nations.

The 33-year-old was left as an unused substitute as goals from Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo earned a 2-0 win at the London Stadium on Sunday.

Salah had been an ever-present in the Premier League as Liverpool won the title last season, with their trip to West Ham marking the first time Slot had ever left the forward out of his starting line-up in the English top-flight.

However, Salah has found his place in the side the subject of increasing scrutiny following a number of below-par performances as the Reds lost nine of their 12 matches prior to the weekend trip to the capital

It remains to be seen if the forward will be restored to Slot's starting XI for Wednesday night's clash with Sunderland or if the Dutchman will keep faith with the attack that helped Liverpool return to winning ways

But the Reds head coach was full of praise for Salah as he revealed his reaction to being left out of the side at the weekend.

Slot

"It’s a fair assumption (that he wasn’t happy to be left out),"

"And it’s a normal reaction from a player who is good enough to play for us.

“And I say that mildly because he has been so outstanding for this club for so many years and will be for us in the future. So yeah, of course a player isn’t happy not playing.

"He wasn’t the only one who wasn’t happy that he wasn’t starting, I can tell you. And that’s normal. But the way he behaved was as you would expect from the professional he is.

"He was very supportive for his team-mates. Handled himself really well during the day and yesterday in the session as well.

“You cannot be a player that is available every three days and plays to that high standards if you go with your emotions.

"But for Mo, he is so disciplined and knows what to do to stay fit.

“No matter if he plays well, doesn’t play well, if he plays or if he doesn’t play he will always be that top professional. And that’s what he was the last two days."

Meanwhile, Slot revealed that Salah is currently scheduled to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday, December 15, after Liverpool play host to Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, December 13.

“Yeah, yeah we have (been told a date to release him)," he said. "I think FIFA does this, I don’t know exactly. But it’s December 15.

"But as always in these situations, there is a player involved, there is the nation involved - Egypt in this situation - and the club. And there is always talks about what is best for all three of us.

"I think the way we've worked at this club is that there is always a communication between all three. The player, the club and the country, so that is nothing new.

“That is always the same. When they come back, when they go. FIFA did this and said the 15th is the last day they have to be released."

With the tournament set to conclude on January 18, he could miss as many as eight matches if the Pharaohs were to be crowned African champions - including trips to Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal.

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