Mohamed Salah: Arne Slott suggests the Liverpool striker will start against Marseille

Arne Slott has suggested Mohamed Salah will return to Liverpool’s starting line-up against Marseille in Wednesday’s Champions League clash, insisting his relationship with the striker is “as normal as ever”.

Salah’s last participation as a starter for Liverpool was in a 4-1 defeat at home to PSV Eindhoven last November, but he scored four goals in the African Cup of Nations, where the Egyptian national team finished fourth.

The 33-year-old gave a dramatic interview shortly before leaving for the Africa Cup of Nations, where he claimed that “someone doesn’t want me at the club” and he no longer has anything to do with Sloat following his exclusion.

Asked if he had a chance to think about the situation with Salah after the events that occurred in December, Slott said: “There was a moment in the season when I decided not to play with Mohamed Salah.

“At one point I decided not to take him to the match [against Inter Milan]. For all the other matches, he was in the team and was the first sub against Brighton, so, at that moment in time, it was no problem for me at all.

“The first time he’s been able to be in the team again, and that’s because he trained today and is in the team for tomorrow. Let’s see the lineup tomorrow if you still think there’s a problem.”

Slot’s team did not suffer any defeat during Salah’s time in Morocco, but the Dutchman admitted that he was “happy” to have Liverpool’s all-time top scorer in the Champions League again.

“I’m really happy and excited to have him back,” Slott added. “In his absence, I think we did very well in terms of not conceding almost any chances and starting to create more and more.

“If you create more and more, it really helps to have Mohamed Salah. There has only been one player who has scored more for this club.” [who is alive] But I don’t think I can play Ian Rush yet! “So it’s really beneficial to have it back.”

In response to a question about his relationship with Salah, he said: “It is normal as it has always been, with one exception, which is Inter Milan.”

“I spoke to him today and I’m happy he’s back because this season I’ve only had two wingers who played more than 100 minutes in the Premier League in Mo and Cody. [Gakpo].

“Jeremy Frimpong and Florian Wirtz can also play in these positions, but if you ask Florian what his favorite position is he won’t say left winger or right winger. Jeremy would be the same, but he has shown what he can do on the right side.

“I saw today that Mo has 45 goals for Liverpool in the Champions League, followed by Virgil van Dijk with five. So it’s good to have him back, especially if he is able to reach those levels that brought him 45 goals again.”

Liverpool took a 20-man squad to Marseille, with Ibrahima Konate missing the tour due to a family matter.

The match against Robert De Zerbe’s side will impact their hopes of finishing in the top eight and avoiding two additional knockout stage ties next month. The Reds host Qarabag in their final group stage match on Wednesday, January 28.