Arne Slot has expressed his astonishment at Mohamed Salah's incendiary remarks claiming he had been "thrown under the bus" by Liverpool, with the Egyptian forward also alleging their working relationship has completely collapsed.
Speaking at a press conference in Milan on Monday evening ahead of Tuesday's Champions League encounter with Inter at the San Siro, the Dutch manager addressed the controversy head-on.
"It was a surprise to me when I heard he gave the comments he gave," Slot told reporters.
When questioned about Salah's suggestion that someone at the club wants him gone, Slot remained measured: "The only one who can answer that is Mo himself."
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Since Salah's bombshell interview on Saturday, contact between the pair has been minimal at best.
Slot revealed their sole exchange consisted merely of informing the 32-year-old that he would not be making the journey to Italy for the European fixture.
Arne Slot has admitted he was left surprised by Mohamed Salah's shock interview
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Asked to describe the nature of that conversation, the Liverpool boss was characteristically succinct: "A short one."
The forward had trained alongside his teammates earlier on Monday but was subsequently omitted from the travelling party that departed for Milan.
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"We have let him know that he isn't travelling with us. That's the only communication from us to him," Slot confirmed.
"Before Saturday the two of us have spoken a lot. Sometimes longer, sometimes shorter."
Despite having been dropped to the bench for Liverpool's previous three matches, Slot insisted he had detected no signs of friction with his star player until the weekend's outburst.
Mohamed Salah was left on the bench for the match with Leeds United | REUTERS"That's not the way I feel but he has the right to feel how he feels things," the manager stated when asked directly whether their relationship had fractured.
"I haven't felt that at all until Saturday evening for sure."
Slot went on to praise Salah's conduct during his recent spell out of the starting eleven, noting the Egyptian had remained "very respectful to the staff members and to his team-mates" whilst continuing to work diligently in training sessions.
The manager's evident bewilderment at the timing and content of Salah's public criticism was palpable throughout his responses.
Regarding the possibility of Salah featuring in Saturday's Premier League clash with Brighton at Anfield, Slot declined to close the door entirely.
"I'm a firm believer there's always a possibility to return for a player," he acknowledged.
Mohamed Salah has been left at home for Liverpool's trip to Inter Milan this week
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However, when pressed on whether the Egyptian had made his final appearance in a Liverpool shirt, the Dutchman offered no guarantees: "I have no clue, I cannot answer that question in this moment in time.
"I'm calm, polite - but that doesn't mean I'm weak. It's up to us as a club to react and you can see he isn't here."
Liverpool face Inter Milan on Tuesday night in the Champions League, with Salah being omitted from the squad.