Arne Slot: Liverpool star Mohamed Salah shouldn't mistake my kindness for weakness

The match, played at the San Siro, saw the Reds overcome the Nerazzurri without their talismanic forward after Salah was dropped from the matchday squad.

The decision was taken by the club and fully supported by Slot, who addressed the situation briefly in a pre-match press conference on Monday night.

The Dutchman made it clear that his calm and measured demeanour should not be mistaken for weakness, stressing that his authority cannot be undermined by public comments from any player.

Salah's omission followed a controversial interview in the Elland Road mixed zone, in which he accused Liverpool of having him "thrown under the bus". That interview directly led to his exclusion from the squad that secured what was described internally as a crucial win in Italy.

Since then, it is understood that positive talks have taken place between Slot and Salah at Liverpool's training base on Friday afternoon. As a result, the third highest goalscorer in the club's history is expected to be involved in today's visit from Brighton & Hove Albion.

Slot is also preparing for a period without Salah, who will be absent with Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations. However, uncertainty remains over the forward's longer-term future at Anfield beyond AFCON, despite efforts to steady the situation behind the scenes.

"But what I meant [by being kind, not weak] was I am not afraid to take decisions that I think I have to take," Slot said before his talk with Salah.

"Can players sense weakness? Yes. But you don't have to show strength or weakness when it doesn't help the team.

"It would not be smart to be like: 'Oh, I am so strong and I am not afraid to take big decisions', if that doesn't help the team.

"It is not my idea to show I can take, even if it was a strong decision or a hard or difficult one, but definitely I have been in dressing rooms and they are constantly checking the decisions you make.

"And I have to make 40-50 a day I think, if not more. But players, like pundits and journalists, hardly ever know everything that happens and I have heard a lot about this whole situation.

"One of the things the pundits have said is that we might not know everything and who knows if that is true." 

READ MORE: Arne Slot set for crunch talks with Mohamed Salah to determine Liverpool future