Liverpool head coach Arne Slot says he was “surprised” by Mohamed Salah saying their relationship had broken down, but didn’t rule out a potential return for the forward.

Slot says the only communication he has had with Salah since Saturday’s bombshell interview was to tell the player he would not be travelling to Italy for Tuesday’s Champions League game with Inter. Asked how that conversation was, he said: “A short one.”

Slot has benched Salah for Liverpool’s past three games but says he didn’t believe his relationship with Salah had broken down and hadn’t seen indications of that until Salah’s interview. “It was a surprise to me when I heard he gave the comments he gave,” said Slot, in a press conference on Monday.

Slot was asked whether Salah could come back into contention for Saturday’s Premier League game with Brighton at Anfield and the Dutchman says that is a decision which would be taken after the game with Inter on Tuesday night.

“I’m a firm believer there’s always a possibility to return for a player,” said Slot.

However, when he was pressed on whether Salah had played his final game for Liverpool, Slot said: “I have no clue, I cannot answer that question in this moment in time.”

Slot also pointed out he was uncertain what or who Salah was referring to with some of his comments. But added: “I’m calm, polite – but that doesn’t mean I’m weak. It’s up to us as a club to react and you can see he isn’t here.”

More to follow…

Ronaldo-esque powerplay pits Salah against Slot

Analysis from Sky Sports’ Zinny Boswell:

“Mohamed Salah has given Liverpool a decision to make after revealing he no longer has a relationship with Arne Slot. It is difficult to see a path forward for both star player and head coach now. Whatever happens next, it will be seismic for Liverpool.

“Salah chose to speak out, in a season when he has been largely silent, to deliver a message about his own future at a moment of weakness for Slot, who failed to take the seven points Jamie Carragher said he needed to save his job against West Ham, Sunderland and Leeds.

“Significantly, Slot was the only colleague Salah mentioned by name. Intentional or not, he has made it ‘me vs him’. Although, Salah might argue Slot did that himself by forcing him to watch from the bench as Liverpool twice blew a lead at Elland Road.

“One inarguable takeaway from Salah’s bombshell interview is that he just wants to play football again, whether that can happen at Liverpool is unclear. Next Saturday’s game against Brighton, his last before going to AFCON, could feasibly be his Anfield farewell.

“After this, it’s hard to see a world in which he plays this week.”