Salah has returned from his Africa Cup of Nations campaign after missing the last seven matches, although questions remain over his relationship with Slot.
Liverpool’s head coach has insisted in his absence, and before, that the fallout from the explosive comments at Leeds had been resolved, which he reiterated in Marseille.
With Salah now part of Liverpool’s 20-man squad for the Champions League match, Slot was asked whether this is now a chance for a fresh start with the 33-year-old.
His answer was to the point, with Slot saying: “There was a point in the season where I decided not to play against Mo, and there was a point where I decided not to take him to the match.
“During all the other games he has always been in the selection and I brought him on as the first substitute against Brighton. So at that time there was never a problem for me.”
“But at that moment I think the outside world could see that there was no problem. And the first time he can be in the selection again, it is because he trained with us today and he is in the selection for tomorrow.”
“And let’s take a look at the lineup tomorrow if you still think there’s a problem.”
Is Mo Salah ready to return to the Liverpool starting XI vs. Marseille?
When Slot was asked earlier during his press conference whether Salah was ready to immediately return to the starting line-up, Slot embraced another opportunity to score.
“Very happy with Mo and glad that he is back, because I think we did quite well in his absence in terms of hardly giving away any chances. We are starting to create more and more,” Slot began.
“And as you start to create more and more, it is very useful to have a player like Mo Salah.
“If there was ever a player, I think there is one who has scored more for this club but who can score goals and still play. I don’t think I can play against Ian Rush anymore. Then it will be very useful to have him back.”
“We would never know, but the amount of chances, the amount of possession against Burnley, with Mo on the pitch, would usually mean we would have scored more.
“That’s why I’m very happy that he’s back, because creating chances is fun, but we are only judged on the results and that wasn’t fun.
“So hopefully we can combine two things to create the same opportunities, score more and not miss opportunities at the other end.”
Arne Slot about his relationship with Mo Salah
As for his relationship with Salah, Slot emphasized that it is “as normal as ever.”
He continued: “There was only one exception, and that was the match against Inter, where I didn’t take him with me, but he was there for all the matches.
“And in the last game he played at Liverpool before going to AFCON, he came on after 15, 20 minutes and I think he put in a very good performance in that game.
“So we were 1-0 up at the time and we beat Brighton 2-0. So I think he left in a situation that was good for him and for us because we beat Brighton and he was playing again.”
“And then he went to the AFCON, did what he normally does: score goals. Unfortunately he couldn’t win at the tournament, but there were other very good teams in that tournament as well.”
‘But he reached the semi-finals and now he is back with us.
“And of course I spoke to him today, and I’m happy he’s back because like I said, I’ve only had two wingers this season who told me that their favorite position, who has played more than 100 minutes in the Premier League, is Mo and Cody.
“There are other players who can certainly play in that position, very well by the way, such as Jeremy Frimpong and Florian Wirtz.
“But when I ask Florian what his favorite position is, I don’t think he’s going to tell me a left or right winger. I think he’s going to tell me a different position, but he can play there very well. Jeremy the same.”
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