'Always in my mind to start' - Slot on Salah
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Liverpool boss Arne Slot says Mohamed Salah is "always in my mind" after the Egypt forward was left out of the last two starting line-ups.Salah, 33, has scored just four times during Liverpool's disappointing start to the Premier League season and has played just 45 minutes in the last two games.Sources have told BBC Sport that the Saudi Pro League remain interested in signing Salah, who signed a new two-year contract in April."I think for every player in my mind can start and Mo is an exceptional player for us," said Slot on Friday."He is always in my mind to either start or to come off the bench."Salah scored 29 times as Liverpool won the Premier League in Slot's first season in charge last campaign.But he was an unused substitute when Liverpool returned to winning ways at West Ham last Sunday, and again started from the substitutes bench for the 1-1 home draw at home to Sunderland on Wednesday.It remains to be seen if Salah will return to the side for Saturday's match at Leeds United (17:30 GMT).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 was strongly linked with Al-Ittihad before agreeing a new deal with Liverpool, which runs until 2027.Since joining the Reds in 2017, Salah has scored 250 goals in 420 Liverpool appearances in all competitions since joining the club in 2017.Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said this week that Slot's decision to drop Salah serves as proof that no one has "unlimited credit" at the club."He is still a fantastic player and we still have to remember there is a reason why he has been so successful at the club and we have to respect that," Van Dijk said after the Sunderland draw."I need him around as one of the leaders.
He's disappointed but that's absolutely normal as if you're not disappointed when you're not playing two games in a row then there is an issue as well. "That's always been the case [that no one is undroppable].
It's not like you have unlimited credit, everyone has to perform."Liverpool start the weekend ninth in the table, 11 points behind leaders Arsenal, after two wins in nine league games.