Liverpool manager Arne Slot has confirmed that the club has “moved on” from the controversy surrounding Mohamed Salah, with the star forward now away at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) representing Egypt. Slot says the Reds are focusing on growing into the team he envisions, despite Salah’s recent public frustrations.

Salah’s AFCON Call-Up and Transfer Speculation

Mohamed Salah, who has been linked with a potential move to the Saudi Pro League, is currently with the Egyptian national team at AFCON 2025. The forward will be away for up to a month, leaving Liverpool to navigate the Premier League without their star attacker.

Slot stressed that all focus should now be on Salah’s international duties:

“Now he’s at the AFCON playing big games for himself and the country. All the focus for him is over there, and there should not be any distraction from me saying anything because we moved on after the Leeds interview.”

Salah had previously expressed frustration after being benched for three consecutive games, including a 3-3 draw at Leeds United, claiming he had been “thrown under the bus” amid Liverpool’s struggles this season.

Liverpool’s Recent Form and Squad Transformation

Liverpool have recovered from a difficult stretch of nine defeats in 12 games and are currently enjoying a five-game unbeaten run, during which Salah did not start a single match. The team begins its Premier League clash against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday without the Egyptian forward.

Slot admitted that the integration of Liverpool’s new summer signings—Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong, and Milos Kerkez—has been more challenging than anticipated. Apart from Ekitike, most newcomers have struggled to find consistency.

“I think we are getting closer and closer to the team I want us to be, and that has gone with ups and downs. Sometimes he can play, then he cannot play. It takes maybe a bit of time, and we’ve been very unlucky,” Slot said.

Liverpool invested nearly £450 million ($602m) in the summer transfer window, aiming to reshape their squad, and the Dutch manager believes the adjustments were necessary, though he admits he may have been overly optimistic about how quickly the team would gel.

Injury Concerns Ahead of Tottenham Clash

Liverpool will be without Joe Gomez and Cody Gakpo due to injury, though Slot is hopeful that Dominik Szoboszlai will be fit to start. Jeremie Frimpong will return after a two-month absence.

Despite the absence of Salah and key players, Liverpool sit seventh in the Premier League, with the chance to climb into the top four with a victory over struggling Spurs. Slot remains confident that the team can adapt and continue their push for a strong finish to the season.