Liverpool manager Arne Slot has hinted at the possibility of peace talks with Mohamed Salah.
The Dutchman initially suggested the Egyptian should be the first to apologise, before later softening his stance on the row that has dominated the last few days.
Having left the Egypt international at home after his explosive comments following Saturday’s draw at Leeds, when he suggested he has no relationship with his boss after being benched for three games, the Reds beat Inter Milan 1-0 at San Siro in the Champions League.
Afterwards, Slot was asked whether there was a way back for a player who had suggested the weekend’s Premier League game at home to Brighton may be his last.
He said: "First, you have to ask if the player feels he made a mistake.
"I’m going to talk to him. But then you have to ask, 'should the initiative come from me?'"
However, in his press conference, Slot rowed back slightly on those comments.
He added: "I didn’t say who should make the first step. Tonight, it should be all about the players that are here. In the rich history Liverpool has had, they have had many of these evenings."
The Dutchman initially suggested the Egyptian should be the first to apologise, before later softening his stance on the row that has dominated the last few days
|REUTERS
Dominik Szoboszlai’s 88th-minute penalty, which Slot appeared to suggest was soft, settled matters in a game in which Liverpool looked much more solid.
Slot said: "All I could ask for, I think the fourth game in 10 days, that is not what you see a lot with only 13 outfield players available with Premier League or Champions League experience.
"After the blow we had conceding the 3-3 in Leeds, then in this stadium against such a strong Inter team, we hardly gave away a chance.
"Great mentality second half, we got better and better, we were close to scoring with Conor (Bradley) crossing for Hugo (Ekitike) then we get a penalty that if that was a penalty we could have got 10 this season. In the Premier League, I don’t think it would have been given."
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Mohamed Salah was home after his explosive comments following Saturday’s draw at Leeds
|REUTERS
The travelling Liverpool support were heard chanting Slot's name during the game, which was repeated at length when the Reds boss went over to the away end after the final whistle.
Slot said: “What it means that the fans sing for me, that means a lot. But I said yesterday it’s not about me, it’s about the team and they were there for the team.
"It shows you one more time that if things go against us or there is a hard time, we are all there for each other and we fight for each other and that’s what the fans showed today.”
Pressure had been mounting on Slot, but his side is likely they qualify for the knockout stages, despite a humiliating 4-1 loss to PSV Eindhoven last time out in the competition.
Dominik Szoboszlai netted a late penalty to give Liverpool all three points | REUTERSThe Ducthmanger said: "It was mainly for us very important we got a result today.
"An away game still to play and a home game, so we needed points. We knew how difficult it would be over here as they have been so, so strong in this stadium. It was a great result like it was against Real Madrid.
"It’s the weird thing, we’ve had a few special results this season, beating Arsenal, Real Madrid, Newcastle away, Villa at home, that’s why it’s so surprising we have dropped points in other games.
"Last few games players have fought so hard and shown mentality and not always got what we deserved but tonight at least we did in difficult circumstances."
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