Yahoo Sports Liverpool boss Slot responds to Salah comments with Man City joke
Liverpool manager Arne Slot joked that Mo Salah “knows more about the 115 charges” following his latest comments on the contract standoff with the club.
The Egyptian winger quipped after Sunday’s 2-0 win that it may have been the last time he faced Manchester City at Anfield in the Premier League.
The 32-year-old’s contract expires next summer and he previously admitted he was “disappointed” he was yet to receive an offer of a new deal from Liverpool.
“Maybe Mo knows more about the 115 charges, so he expects them not to be in the Premier League next season! I do expect them in the Premier League,” Slot said in his pre-match press conference ahead of facing Newcastle United on Wednesday.
Read – Salah admits Liverpool contract situation ‘in his head’
Man City were charged with 115 counts of breaching the Premier League’s Financial Fair Play rules in February 2023, with the trial currently taking place. They have always denied the allegations made against them.
“The boring answer is always the same. This is not the place for me to talk about Mo’s contract – and maybe I’ve already said too much with the joke I just made, which will probably get the headlines.
“But it was a joke – I repeat, it was a joke!”
Slot admitted that Liverpool have been somewhat over-reliant on Salah this season. He has started every league game so far, scoring 11 goals and making seven assists in 13 games.
“A bit, but only for the fact that – he’s a human being and it happened to him last season – he can get an injury,” the Dutchman said.
“Since Federico Chiesa has had a difficult start at the club because of injuries, we don’t really have a replacement for Mo.
“The good thing is Harvey Elliott is getting fitter and he played this position many times as well.
“I’m not afraid Mo’s numbers will drop at all, but when it comes to an injury, then we are in a better position on the left wing than we are on the right.
“The good thing is Federico is also training with us again. He’s getting back and Harvey is getting back, but the best thing that can happen for us is that Mo stays fit and keeps producing these numbers.”
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