Arne Slot held press conferences on December 12-13, 2025, addressing Mohamed Salah’s availability and their relationship following Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Brighton at Anfield in the Premier League. The Liverpool manager stated definitively that he has “no issue to resolve” with Salah after the Egyptian forward came off the bench in the Brighton match, marking his return following a week of tension sparked by Salah’s public comments claiming he felt “thrown under the bus” and suggesting his relationship with Slot had deteriorated. Speaking in his post-match press conference on December 12, Slot emphasized that Salah is “now the same as any other player” and that discussions between them are private matters to be handled internally rather than through the media. The manager confirmed Salah will depart for the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt, leaving Liverpool to cope without their star forward during a busy fixture period, though Slot expressed confidence in his squad depth despite limited player availability due to injuries. He also praised Hugo Ekitike’s adaptation to the Premier League’s intensity after the young striker’s performance against Brighton, while defending Liverpool’s defensive record and highlighting three clean sheets in the last five matches.
Pre-Brighton Press Conference: Salah Uncertainty
In his pre-match press conference on December 11, 2025, ahead of the Brighton clash, Arne Slot revealed he would have a crucial conversation with Mohamed Salah on Friday morning to determine whether the Egyptian would be involved against Brighton. The uncertainty surrounding Salah’s availability dominated the press briefing, with Slot repeatedly declining to discuss specific details about their relationship or the issues that had emerged following the FA Cup match against Sunderland.
When asked whether Salah would be involved against Brighton, Slot responded carefully: “I will have a conversation with Mo this morning and the outcome of that conversation determines how it will look tomorrow.” He then established clear boundaries with journalists, stating: “I think the next time I speak about Mo should be with him and not in here. You can keep on trying but there is not much more to say about it other than that I speak to him today and, like I said, the outcome of that conversation determines how things will look tomorrow.”
Multiple Conversations Throughout the Week
Slot revealed that extensive discussions had taken place during the week following the Sunderland FA Cup match, involving multiple parties and levels within the club. He explained: “We’ve spoken a lot in the last week after the Sunderland game. I think there have been a lot of conversations between his representatives and ours, our representatives and him, between him and me after the Sunderland game – and today I will speak to him again.”
The complexity of these discussions, involving representatives from both sides as well as direct manager-to-player conversations, indicated the seriousness with which Liverpool treated the situation. Slot’s comment about speaking to Salah “again” suggested ongoing dialogue rather than a single confrontation or resolution meeting, pointing to careful relationship management rather than rushed decisions.
Refusing to Discuss Tactical Demands
When journalists attempted to probe whether part of the tension stemmed from asking Salah to contribute more defensively, Slot shut down that line of questioning immediately. His response was simple: “You can try it in multiple ways, but I think I just said that the next time I speak about him should be with him.” This consistent refusal to engage with speculation about the source of tensions demonstrated Slot’s commitment to handling the matter privately.
Similarly, when asked whether he had received or needed an apology from Salah, Slot gave an identical response, refusing to be drawn into discussing the internal dynamics of their relationship. This approach contrasted sharply with Salah’s public comments the previous week, where the forward had openly discussed feeling unsupported by the club.
Post-Brighton Press Conference: Issue Resolved
Following Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Brighton on December 12, 2025, Arne Slot addressed the media with significantly more confidence about the Salah situation. When asked if he was satisfied that issues were resolved or whether there were still things to address, Slot’s response was unequivocal: “For me, there’s no issue to resolve. For me, he’s now the same as any other player. You talk to your players if you are happy or unhappy with things. But there’s nothing to talk about after what happened against Leeds after the game.”
This statement represented a clear de-escalation from the uncertainty of the pre-match press conference just hours earlier. Slot’s characterization of Salah as “now the same as any other player” suggested whatever tensions had existed had been successfully addressed through their Friday conversation and subsequent discussions.
Salah’s Substitute Appearance
Salah came off the bench during the Brighton match, making a substitute appearance that Slot later confirmed was planned as part of managing the forward’s fitness ahead of his departure for the Africa Cup of Nations. In a post-match interview with IN Sports, Slot was asked whether he expected Salah to return to Liverpool after AFCON, to which he responded: “He’s Liverpool player so I expect him to come back afterwards, yes.”
When pressed for further clarification during his post-match press briefing about expecting Salah’s return, Slot reiterated his position: “For me, there is no problem to resolve. He is, to me, just like any other player. I have nothing to discuss regarding what transpired after the game against Leeds United.” This consistent messaging suggested Slot considered the matter closed from his perspective.
AFCON Departure and Squad Management
Slot confirmed that Salah would soon depart for international duty with Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations, creating a significant absence for Liverpool during a congested fixture schedule. He acknowledged the challenge: “Mo is going to go to the AFCON now, I hope he is going to do very well and in the meantime we have to play here without him with not that many players available at the moment.”
However, Slot found a positive aspect in Liverpool’s upcoming schedule, noting: “The good thing is we play on Saturday and then a week in between and then again Saturday.” This spacing of fixtures would provide recovery time for available players and potentially allow injured players to return, mitigating the impact of Salah’s absence to some degree.
Defensive Performance and Clean Sheets
Arne Slot addressed questions about Liverpool’s defensive solidity following the 2-0 clean sheet victory over Brighton, expressing some frustration with the narrative surrounding his team’s defensive performances. When told the team appeared “more solid defensively,” Slot responded with notable sarcasm: “That’s funny, this is what people now say if you win 2-0 and then all of a sudden we were solid. But I think we conceded in one game more than we did in the last four games. But now all of a sudden it’s solid because we won the game.”
He continued, referencing previous results: “And when we had a draw or are conceding in the last minute against Leeds, I assume that people weren’t as positive as after this game.” This comment highlighted Slot’s view that external perceptions of defensive performance are heavily influenced by results rather than objective analysis of chances conceded and defensive organization.
Statistical Reality vs Perception
Slot provided context for his defensive assessment, noting: “From the last five games we’ve played, we kept three clean sheets and that is something to build on, especially after conceding four against PSV Eindhoven and three against Nottingham Forest.” This statistical framework demonstrated that Liverpool’s defensive performance had been consistently strong across multiple matches, not just the Brighton game that received praise.
He also acknowledged Liverpool weren’t perfect against Brighton, stating: “I think we did a lot of things well, but also had a little bit of luck. We’ve had games where we’ve not conceded a chance but conceded three goals. Today we definitely did concede chances but they didn’t go in.” This honest assessment recognized that defensive success requires both good organization and occasional fortune, with variance in finishing affecting outcomes.
Offensive Improvement Alongside Defensive Stability
Slot emphasized that Liverpool’s improvement wasn’t limited to defensive aspects, saying: “But we had a lot of chances as well. In my opinion, we are starting to play better and better on the ball as well.” This holistic view of the team’s development suggested Slot saw progress across multiple facets of play, not just defensive organization that had received media attention.
Hugo Ekitike’s Adaptation to Premier League
Arne Slot provided updates on Hugo Ekitike’s start to his Liverpool career, with the young striker having joined from Paris Saint-Germain during the summer 2025 transfer window as part of Liverpool’s £449 million spending spree. When asked about Ekitike’s performance and why he was substituted in the 78th minute against Brighton, Slot explained: “Just before I took him off there was a moment, I don’t know what happened, but I think he hardly could walk anymore because of cramp.”
The cramping issue highlighted the physical demands Ekitike faces adapting to the Premier League’s intensity, something Slot elaborated on more broadly. He placed Ekitike’s adaptation process within the context of all Liverpool’s summer signings: “What I see with him and I see this with all the players we’ve brought in this summer, they had to adapt to the Premier League, to that intensity, because they were all young.”
Youth Profile of Summer Signings
Slot emphasized the youth profile of Liverpool’s major summer additions, stating: “All the players we brought in are young players, except for Alex Isak, but all the others are very young.” This comment referenced Liverpool’s strategy of investing in emerging talent like Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, and others rather than established superstars, with only the signing of Alexander Isak from Newcastle representing a different profile.
The manager’s patience with adaptation periods for these young players suggests he recognizes the transition to Premier League football requires time, particularly regarding the physical and intensity demands that differ from other European leagues. Ekitike’s cramping issues represent the physical conditioning challenges these players face during their first seasons in England.
Opposition Tactical Approaches Against Liverpool
During his pre-Brighton press conference, Slot discussed how opposition teams approach matches against Liverpool tactically, noting patterns he has observed throughout the season. He explained that teams have become increasingly direct when facing Liverpool, stating: “Sometimes I see a photo that some pundits have shown that it’s so clear and obvious every time… the league has become much more direct. But then there’s the league and then there’s Liverpool how teams play against us in terms of how direct they play.”
Slot distinguished between “direct” play and “long ball” tactics, using what he called “a nicer word” to describe the strategic approach teams employ specifically against Liverpool. He suggested that while the Premier League generally features more direct play than other European leagues, teams facing Liverpool take this approach to an even greater extreme.
Recurring Game Plans
Beyond directness, Slot identified other recurring tactical patterns opponents use against Liverpool: “There have been certain game plans against us that I’ve seen more and more and more and more as well, which I referred to in the press conference before the Inter game.” While he didn’t specify the exact nature of these game plans, his repeated emphasis (“more and more and more and more”) suggested clear trends in how teams set up to counteract Liverpool’s strengths.
This tactical awareness informs Slot’s preparation and his expectations for how teams like Brighton might approach matches at Anfield. Understanding these patterns allows Liverpool to prepare specific solutions rather than being surprised by opposition approaches.
Squad Availability and Injury Updates
Throughout both press conferences, Arne Slot addressed Liverpool’s limited player availability due to injuries and suspensions. In his pre-Brighton briefing, he confirmed that Conor Bradley would miss the match due to suspension, while Cody Gakpo is expected to be sidelined for several weeks with an injury. Jeremie Frimpong was mentioned as potentially close to making his comeback, though specific timelines weren’t provided.
The injury situation created additional pressure on available players during a congested schedule, something Slot acknowledged when discussing the recent run of fixtures: “Four games in 10 days with not a lot of players available is, I think, a compliment to the players that were available, how they managed to get, first of all, some results and, second of all, the work-rate they’ve put in.”
Praise for Squad Resilience
Slot expressed admiration for how his squad had coped with the challenging circumstances, stating: “Apart from being unbeaten, I think we’ve shown we have been a team in the last four games that were indeed difficult to beat, that it was difficult to create chances against us. The team worked really hard, put a lot of effort in. We have been, again, a bit unlucky in the results but showed great resilience.”
This acknowledgment of both results and underlying performance quality suggested Slot saw positive signs even in matches where Liverpool dropped points or faced criticism. The emphasis on work rate and resilience highlighted values Slot prioritizes beyond pure technical quality.
£450 Million Spending Defense
In a previous press conference ahead of the Atletico Madrid match, Arne Slot addressed the persistent focus on Liverpool’s £450 million summer spending spree, offering a robust defense of the club’s transfer strategy. He noted the imbalanced media coverage: “There’s so much focus on our new signings, especially the pundits that favour other clubs! They cannot stop talking about 450 million… but they always forget the 300 million that we’ve sold for!”
Slot emphasized the net spend context that often gets overlooked in discussions of Liverpool’s transfer activity: “These players that we’ve brought in are indeed a lot of money, but they are playing now together with players that are worth the same amount of money. Yes, if we want to strengthen the squad we need almost to spend that much money… if we sell Dominik Szoboszlai tomorrow he would be worth 100 million as well.”
Self-Generated Revenue Model
The manager explained Liverpool’s financial model, emphasizing that spending was funded through the club’s own success rather than external investment: “All the money we’ve spent we generated ourselves by selling and winning the league after we didn’t buy anyone at all. If you win the league it is quite good financially as well.” This pointed to Liverpool’s title-winning season where minimal transfer spending allowed resources to accumulate.
Slot framed the spending as evidence of smart business rather than reckless expenditure: “I think we should see this is a compliment that everybody is like, ‘Wow, they did great business.’ Those two situations led to the fact that we could spend 450 million. It wasn’t as if we looked in the ground and saw, ‘Oh, there is money coming up, let’s spend 450!’ No, we have generated ourselves and I think that is a big compliment for the model we have.”
Expectations Exceeded Despite Difficult Start
Reflecting on Liverpool’s season to date, Slot expressed that results had exceeded his expectations, particularly given the challenging opening fixture schedule and summer squad turnover. He stated: “I think we are far above my expectations during the summer. We all know what happened this summer. We all knew when the schedule came out that we had to face Newcastle away, Arsenal at home and Bournemouth at home and it turned out to be a difficult one at Burnley as well.”
Despite the challenging circumstances, Slot noted: “For us to be on 12 points now is so much more than I expected, especially after we’ve had so many changes in the group as well. I think we can do better. But we’re not every time going to face Newcastle away and Arsenal at home.” This balanced perspective acknowledged both satisfaction with current position and recognition of potential for improvement.
Long-Term Development Focus
Slot’s comments consistently emphasized his focus on continuous improvement rather than immediate perfection: “That’s why we are on the training pitch each day and in team meetings to make the team better.” This development-oriented approach suggests patience with the squad’s adaptation process, particularly for young summer signings still adjusting to Premier League demands.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Arne Slot say about Mohamed Salah in his latest press conference?
In his December 12-13, 2025, press conferences, Arne Slot stated he has “no issue to resolve” with Mohamed Salah after Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Brighton. He emphasized Salah is “now the same as any other player” and that private conversations between them resolved whatever tensions had existed following Salah’s public comments about feeling “thrown under the bus.”
Will Mohamed Salah play for Liverpool after AFCON?
Yes, Arne Slot confirmed he expects Mohamed Salah to return to Liverpool after the Africa Cup of Nations, stating: “He’s Liverpool player so I expect him to come back afterwards, yes.” Slot emphasized there is no issue to resolve between them and Salah remains fully part of his plans.
When was Arne Slot’s latest press conference?
Arne Slot’s most recent press conferences were on December 11, 2025 (pre-match before Brighton) and December 12, 2025 (post-match after Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Brighton at Anfield). These addresses focused heavily on the Mohamed Salah situation, squad updates, and defensive performance.
What did Arne Slot say about Hugo Ekitike?
Arne Slot explained Hugo Ekitike came off against Brighton in the 78th minute due to cramping, stating: “Just before I took him off there was a moment, I don’t know what happened, but I think he hardly could walk anymore because of cramp.” Slot noted all Liverpool’s young summer signings are adapting to the Premier League’s intensity.
How does Arne Slot view Liverpool’s defensive record?
Arne Slot defended Liverpool’s defensive record, noting they kept three clean sheets in their last five games despite criticism. He expressed frustration that perceptions change based on results, saying people suddenly called Liverpool “solid” after the 2-0 Brighton win despite conceding more chances in one previous game than in four others.
What injuries did Arne Slot confirm in his press conference?
Arne Slot confirmed Cody Gakpo is expected to be sidelined for several weeks, while Conor Bradley missed the Brighton match due to suspension. Jeremie Frimpong was mentioned as potentially close to returning from injury, though specific timelines weren’t provided.
Did Arne Slot address the £450 million spending?
Yes, in a previous press conference, Arne Slot defended Liverpool’s £450 million summer spending, emphasizing they generated £300 million through sales and that the money was self-generated through winning the league and smart player trading rather than external investment, calling criticism from rival fans “a compliment” to Liverpool’s business model.
What tactical approaches do teams use against Liverpool according to Slot?
Arne Slot noted teams have become increasingly direct when playing Liverpool, using more long balls than they typically would against other opponents. He also mentioned recurring game plans he’s observed “more and more and more” but didn’t specify exact details, suggesting clear patterns in how opponents try to counteract Liverpool’s strengths.
How did Arne Slot handle questions about Salah before the Brighton match?
Before the Brighton match, Arne Slot repeatedly declined to discuss specifics about Mohamed Salah, saying: “The next time I speak about Mo should be with him and not in here.” He revealed extensive conversations had occurred involving representatives from both sides but refused to discuss whether he needed or received an apology.
What did Arne Slot say about Liverpool’s unbeaten run?
Arne Slot praised his squad’s resilience during their recent unbeaten run, stating: “Four games in 10 days with not a lot of players available is, I think, a compliment to the players that were available, how they managed to get, first of all, some results and, second of all, the work-rate they’ve put in.”
Is the Salah-Slot issue completely resolved?
According to Arne Slot’s December 12, 2025, post-match press conference, yes. He stated definitively: “For me, there’s no issue to resolve. For me, he’s now the same as any other player.” Salah returned as a substitute against Brighton and is expected to rejoin Liverpool after AFCON with no ongoing tensions.
What was Arne Slot’s assessment of Liverpool’s season so far?
Arne Slot said Liverpool are “far above my expectations” given the difficult opening schedule and summer squad changes. He noted being on 12 points after facing Newcastle away, Arsenal at home, and Bournemouth exceeded what he anticipated, while acknowledging the team can still improve.
Did Arne Slot criticize media coverage of Liverpool?
Arne Slot expressed frustration with media narratives, particularly regarding the focus on £450 million spending without mentioning £300 million in sales, and defensive assessments that change based on results rather than underlying performance. He noted “pundits that favour other clubs” consistently emphasize spending while ignoring context.
When does Mohamed Salah leave for AFCON?
Arne Slot confirmed Mohamed Salah will soon depart for the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt, though he didn’t specify exact dates in his December 12, 2025, press conference. Slot expressed hope Salah performs well for Egypt and noted Liverpool must cope without him during a period of limited player availability.
What did Arne Slot say about Liverpool playing better?
Arne Slot stated: “In my opinion, we are starting to play better and better on the ball as well,” suggesting improvement beyond defensive statistics. He emphasized Liverpool created many chances against Brighton and are developing across multiple aspects of play, not just defensive organization.
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