Mohamed Salah didn’t travel to Milan with the rest of the Liverpool squad, yet Arne Slot’s Reds claimed a dramatic late win over Inter to boost their Champions League hopes
Liverpool claimed a vital late win away to Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday, but much of the talk around the game surrounded Mohamed Salah. The Egypt international was left out of the Reds’ travelling squad after an explosive interview following his omission from the starting line-up for Saturday’s draw at Leeds.
In the absence of Salah, Liverpool left it late to win at the San Siro as Florian Wirtz went down in the box to win a penalty and Dominik Szoboszlai made no mistake from the spot. Despite the late drama, though, there was a predictable line of questioning for captain Virgil van Dijk and manager Arne Slot.
“I think tonight it should be all about a team like this tonight, against a team like this who are winning and a stadium like this,” Slot told Prime Video.
“The focus should be on that tonight. I can fully understand if I go into the press conference on Friday and all the questions are on Mo but I think these players deserve for it to be about them tonight.
“You say everyone makes mistakes in life but then it should be does the player think he has made a mistake as well? And then the next question is does this come from me or him? The focus tonight should be about Virgil and Ibou Konate, he’s had a few tough moments but was outstanding today against two very good strikers.”
READ MORE: Dominik Szoboszlai grants Jamie Carragher Liverpool wish amid Mohamed Salah feudREAD MORE: Liverpool given Florian Wirtz VAR verdict after controversial penalty decision vs Inter Milan
Van Dijk also addressed the situation around his team-mate, adding: “Obviously it’s difficult but its a collective difficult situation we’re all in. Obviously between Mo and the club things are going on and the consequences means he is not here today. That is the reality but nothing changes for our motivation to get results for the club.
“An apology? I don’t think I am the one who has to speak about if someone has to apologise. It’s him airing his feelings, and that is something the club has to deal with and me as well.
“Nothing has really changed, we’ve have our responsibility. So the focus was there. Nothing has changed and he trained as well by the way.”
The result leaves Liverpool in eighth place in the Champions League league phase standings. That would be enough to see them straight through to the round of 16 as things stand, though any of Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City and Newcastle United could overtake them with a win in their respective games in hand on Wednesday.
Liverpool face Brighton in their next Premier League match on Saturday (3pm). It’s the last for which Salah is available before the Africa Cup of Nations, and Van Dijk recognised the need to prepare for a run of games without their star man regardless of what follows.
“The reality is Mo is also going to Africa at the weekend,” the captain said. “I have known Mo for such a long time, been through a lot, highs and lows, we’re a big part of this at LFC, so we speak and those types of things will stay indoors as they should.
“And we as a team of players we raise ourselves and be against the outside noise and I encourage the players to listen.”
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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
