Mohamed Salah came off the bench for Liverpool in their 2-0 win over Brighton following his explosive interview, with team-mate Ibrahima Konate insisting the forward will remain at Anfield
Liverpool central defender Ibrahima Konate is confident that Mohamed Salah hasn’t played his last match for the Reds. Salah set up Hugo Ekitike’s second goal in Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion at Anfield.
The striker has been in the media spotlight following a candid interview after the 3-3 draw with Leeds United last weekend. Salah stated that he felt “thrown under the bus” and also alluded to a strained relationship with Liverpool manager Arne Slot.
The 33-year-old has found himself warming the bench in recent weeks and was notably absent from Liverpool’s squad for their midweek clash against Inter Milan. However, following talks with Slot, Salah made a comeback to the matchday squad for the Brighton fixture this weekend, and replaced the injured Joe Gomez in the first half.
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The Egyptian star is now set to participate in the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, which coincides with the January transfer window. And in an interview with French TV Channel Canal+, Konate expressed his belief that Saturday’s match against Brighton won’t be Salah’s swansong for Liverpool.
He said: “Personally, no, I don’t think so. Today you saw how much he [Salah] loves this club.
“What happened with him you have to understand the frustration sometimes felt by players who have such a career, who have done so much. He is a player that everyone loves, the coach loves, he loves the coach, everyone loves each other at this club.”
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Meanwhile, Slot has rubbished claims that Salah may have featured in his last match for the Reds – maintaining he regards the situation with Liverpool’s talisman as settled.
“No, for me there is no issue to resolve,” he said during his post-match press conference. “For me, he is the same as any other player.
“You talk to your players if you are happy or unhappy with things but there is nothing for me to talk about after what happened against Leeds after the game. The reason he wasn’t in Milan was his interview. Everybody has a different opinion about that, should he be once, twice, three times, four times, four months, 12 years.
“Every manager makes different decisions about that. He wasn’t involved in the game against Milan and I spoke to him yesterday. As I usually never say anything about what we talk about, I am not going to make an exception now.
“What has been said between the two of us in that conversation stays between us. What you see is what you get to know. He was in the squad and my first substitution.
“And all the other things have been said in that conversation, I never speak about. When I speak to Virgil or Mo or any other player, I never tell you guys what we talk about.
“But actions speak louder than what has been said. He was in the squad again and when I had to make my first substitution, I brought him in and he performed as every fan wanted him to, including me, would like him to perform today.”
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