ARNE SLOT opened about Mo Salah returning to the Liverpool team after his gamble to leave the outcast star at home paid off.
Victory over Inter Milan eased the pressure on Slot thanks to Dominik Szoboszlai’s late penalty winner when the midfielder smashed home an 88th minute spot-kick following Alessandro Bastoni’s shirt pull on Florian Wirtz.
Afterwards, Slot spoke on Amazon Prime to fellow Dutchman Clarence Seedorf.
When the former Netherlands midfielder said “everyone makes mistakes”, Slot replied: “You say everyone makes mistakes in life, so the first thing should be does the player think he’s made a mistake. The next question should be does the initiative come from me or from him?”
Slot later tried to clarify that he wasn’t insisting that Salah should be the one to take the lead in peace talks.
He told a press conference: “Clarence said that was in his opinion. I didn’t say anything about that, who should make the first step or whatever. It was his opinion so I’m happy I can clarify that.”
Slot left Salah back at the club’s training base after the superstar delivered a furious outburst claiming the pair no longer had a relationship.
Salah also hinted that he could have played his last game for the Prem champions, claiming that he had been “thrown under the bus” by the club.
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But asked if he would seek a sitdown with Salah before he heads off on Africa Cup of Nations duty, Slot, whose side face Brighton at Anfield on Saturday, refused to budge.
Slot added: “It has been an emotional time. To leave Elland Road having lost a third goal to draw 3-3 with Leeds was emotional.
“What happened afterwards was also emotional and it took some of the emotion away from the players – things that were said afterwards also affects the players because he is so influential.”
Skipper Virgil van Dijk ducked out of saying that his team-mate, who also claimed that “somebody wanted him out” of Liverpool, should apologise for his incendiary attack.
The Reds centre-back said: “It’s difficult. But is a collective situation. Obviously between Mo and the club things are going on.
“That’s the reality but nothing changes in us wanting to get results for this club.
“I’m not the one to speak about apologies. It’s him baring his feelings in the last couple of days and the reality also is that Mo is going to Africa.
“I’ve known Mo for such a long time. We’ve been through so many highs and lows.
“He’s been a big part of Liverpool’s success and Liverpool have also been a big part of his success.
“We should say things indoors. We should always brace ourselves to be ready to fight against any odds.”
Left-back Andy Robertson does hope that a resolution can be found to end the bitter row that could see owners Fenway Sports Group sell Salah to a Saudi Pro League club next month.
The decision to leave him at home was taken between them and Slot, and Robertson stressed: “It’s a tough situation. We’re talking about one of the greatest players ever to play at this club.
“So many highs, so many lows over the last eight and a half years – we even joined Liverpool in the same transfer window.
“Whatever happens now will be decided internally and other people and not me will decide that.
“But I do know that I love playing with Mo Salah.”
Liverpool’s victory came after VAR official Soren Storks intervened following Bastoni’s tug on Wirtz and German referee Felix Zwayer was ordered to look at the monitor before pointing to the spot.
It was a night of controversial VAR calls as Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate had a goal ruled out for a handball by team-mate Hugo Ekitike.
