Liverpool may have beaten Inter Milan 1–0 at the San Siro, but the conversation after full-time barely stayed on Dominik Szoboszlai’s late penalty. Instead, the spotlight swung straight back onto Mohamed Salah, whose explosive outburst after the 3–3 draw at Leeds continues to dominate the club’s headlines.
Despite not being in Italy, Salah’s absence — and whether he has apologised — became the main line of questioning for Amazon Prime as Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson and Arne Slot faced the cameras.
Van Dijk: “It’s a difficult situation… but nothing changes for us”
Liverpool’s captain didn’t dodge the elephant in the room. Van Dijk admitted the squad is dealing with a “collective difficult situation,” acknowledging the ongoing tension between Salah and the club.
But when pushed about an apology, he immediately shut it down:
- “I don’t think I am the one who has to speak about that.”
- “It’s him airing his feelings… the club has to deal with it.”
Van Dijk insisted the squad remains focused and revealed Salah has still been training before heading off to the Africa Cup of Nations. Most importantly, he made it clear any deeper conversations will “stay indoors as they should.”
Andy Robertson: “I love playing with Mo… I hope to continue”
The vice-captain struck a more emotional tone, calling Salah “one of the greatest players to ever play for the club.”
Robertson didn’t offer any hints on whether the situation is close to being resolved — stressing it’s out of his hands — but his message was simple: the dressing room is united, and he hopes Salah remains part of it.
Arne Slot: “Tonight should be about the ones who are here”
The Liverpool head coach refused to let the moment be overshadowed. Slot firmly redirected attention back to the players who earned a huge away win in Milan.
He also clarified comments raised by pundit Clarence Seedorf, who suggested Salah and Slot needed to speak directly:
- “That was his opinion. I didn’t say who should make the first step.”
- “Tonight should be about the players who were here. They deserve the credit.”
Slot knows the questions will return at Friday’s press conference, but on a night where Liverpool found a pulse in a turbulent season, he wasn’t entertaining any narrative other than the team’s performance.
The bigger picture
Salah’s future remains uncertain, his relationship with Slot under the microscope, and the dressing room walking a tightrope between support, diplomacy and focus. But in Milan, Liverpool produced the kind of gritty away win that — historically — signals resilience rather than collapse.
Whether that resilience extends to resolving their £200m superstar’s turmoil is the question waiting for its own whistle.
