Head coach reveals December deadline; winger upset at being benched last weekend
Liverpool are preparing to be without Mohamed Salah for at least a month as the Egyptian prepares to join up with his national team for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Afcon starts in mid-December and manager Arne Slot has confirmed Salah will remain available until at least the fixture against Brighton on 13 December, before linking up with Egypt. Slot said the deadline for the player’s release is 15 December.
“It [the deadline] is the 15th of December,” Slot said. “As always there is the nation involved, the player involved and the club. There are always talks about what is the best for all three of us.”
Salah’s departure might be easier on the club after he was left on the bench for the trip to West Ham on Sunday amid a poor run of form, although Slot refused to confirm he was dropped because he has not been playing well.
It is unclear whether the player will start against Sunderland on Wednesday, but Slot said he was upset at being benched at the weekend.
“It was a normal reaction for a player who is good enough to play for us – and I say that mildly as he’s been so outstanding for this club and will be in the future,” Slot said. “He wasn’t happy he wasn’t starting but he wasn’t the only one.”
