Mohamed Salah is “always in my mind” according to Liverpool manager Arne Slot, following the Egyptian forward’s exclusion from the previous two starting lineups.
Salah, 33, has only played 45 minutes in the last two games and has only scored four goals throughout Liverpool’s dismal start to the Premier League season.
Salah signed a new two-year deal in April, but several sources have claimed that the Saudi Pro League is still interested in signing him.
Slot Speaks About Salah’s Omission From Liverpool’s Starting XI
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“I think for every player in my mind can start and Mo is an exceptional player for us,” said Slot on Friday as quoted by BBC.
“He is always in my mind to either start or to come off the bench.”
Last season, Salah scored 29 goals as Liverpool won the league title in Slot’s first season as manager.
However, he started from the substitutes’ bench for Wednesday’s 1-1 home draw against Sunderland after being an unused substitute when Liverpool got back to winning ways at West Ham last Sunday.
Salah’s return to the team for Saturday’s game against Leeds United is still up in the air.
Asked if he understands the talk around Salah after being dropped, Slot added: “The chatter, yes because he deserves that, he has been so influential for me and six or seven years.
“It’s completely normal people talk about it when he isn’t playing.”
Salah had been closely linked with Al-Ittihad prior to signing a new contract with Liverpool that will last until 2027.
Salah has scored 250 goals in 420 Liverpool games across all competitions since joining the Reds in 2017.
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