Liverpool manager Arne Slot says the club has moved on from Mohamed Salah’s substitution outburst as they prepare for a month without the Egyptian star.
MANAGER Arne Slot says Liverpool have “moved on” from the furore caused by Mohamed Salah’s explosive outburst at being dropped.
The Reds begin what could be up to a month without Salah, who is representing Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations, away at Tottenham on Saturday.
Slot has steadied the ship with a five-game unbeaten run, during which Salah did not start a single game.
“Actions speak louder than words. We moved on,” Slot told reporters on Friday.
He was referring to his decision to bring Salah on as a substitute in last week’s 2-0 victory over Brighton.
“Now he’s at the AFCON playing big games for himself and the country.”
Despite a difficult second season, Liverpool sit seventh in the Premier League.
A victory against struggling Spurs would move them into the top four.
The English champions spent nearly £450 million in the summer to bring in Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez.
Apart from the impressive Ekitike, all the new signings have struggled.
Slot conceded he had been overly optimistic over how long it would take for his new-look squad to perform consistently.
“I think we are getting closer and closer to the team I want us to be,” said the Dutchman.
“If I’m completely honest, maybe I didn’t expect it to take maybe as long as it did.”
He added that reflecting now, he thinks he was “too positive” about the integration process.
Joe Gomez and Cody Gakpo will miss the trip to Tottenham due to injury.
Slot is hopeful that Dominik Szoboszlai will be fit to start.
Jeremie Frimpong returns to the squad after a two-month absence.
