Arne Slot was not giving much away regarding Mohamed Salah ahead of Liverpool’s clash with Brighton on Saturday.
The Reds boss had been expected to give an update on whether his tearaway No. 11 would feature against the Seagulls after sitting out of the Champions League game in midweek.
However, Slot answered questions on Salah with a straight bat, with Liverpool fans left to wonder what exactly will happen over the weekend.
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The performance was in keeping with how Slot has managed everything since Salah‘s poorly judged post-match interview after Liverpool’s draw against Leeds.
After standing up to player power in an eye-catching way, the Liverpool head coach has reportedly won a few admirers within the rest of the football world.
Arne Slot seen as being more powerful at Liverpool
If Salah felt he could simply pull the Jenga piece which left Slot’s tower tumbling, he was badly mistaken.
Although the Dutchman has not exactly come back swinging at Salah, he has let him know in no uncertain terms that what he did will not be tolerated.
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According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, this has gone down well in the football industry, with Slot now looking ‘more powerful’ to those on the outside looking in.
“I think Arne Slot looks more powerful to the eyes of the supporters and to the eyes of everyone who is in the industry in terms of the power he has at Liverpool, because Arne Slot is together with the club,” Romano told the Here We Go Podcast.
“It was not Arne Slot alone, it was the management, Arne Slot, the coaching staff altogether deciding not to call Mo Salah for the Inter game and Liverpool won.
“Liverpool believe Arne Slot is the man to go through this situation and turn the situation around. They keep repeating this, they trust the manager, they believe in the manager and even after this Salah story I think he is getting more and more power, also in the eyes of people who are external to this situation.”
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Will Slot survive if Liverpool lose again?
While Slot has indeed come out of the Salah saga especially well, it will mean little if Liverpool go on to lose against Brighton on Saturday.
Once the whistle blows at Anfield, the only thing that should matter is the Reds picking up three vital Premier League points.
If Salah is dropped once again and Liverpool win, Slot’s position will only become stronger. But if the Reds lose, the same old questions will be opened up once again.
Slot would likely survive if Liverpool are beaten for the third time in six Premier League matches, but he would lose a large slice of support from within the fanbase.
Saturday is a critical point in this ever-developing saga. Slot has certainly put himself in a good position, but one bad move would soon change that.
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