Arne Slot joked that Mohamed Salah’s comment about facing Manchester City for the final time was because the defending champions could be relegated for alleged financial misconduct.
Salah provided an assist and scored from the spot as Liverpool moved nine points clear at the top of the Premier League with a 2-0 win over City.
And at full-time, the Egyptian forward, who is out of contract next summer, hinted that he could have faced Pep Guardiola’s side for the last time at Anfield.
But Slot suggested that Salah was merely referencing the possibility of City being relegated should they be found guilty of 115 charges of alleged financial irregularities rather than his own contact negotiations.
City, who have not won in seven matches in all competitions, are still awaiting a verdict in their ongoing case with the Premier League. The eight-time champions deny any guilt but could face a slim possibility of relegation if found guilty.
‘Maybe Mo knows more about the 115 [charges] so he doesn’t expect them to be in the Premier League next season,’ Slot said when asked about Salah’s comments following the win at the weekend.
Keen to clarify he was joking, the Dutchman added:’ I do expect them to be in the Premier League. That was a joke! I do repeat, that was a joke.
‘The boring answer is always the same. This is not the place for me to talk about Salah’s contract and maybe already, I’ve said too much about the joke I just made. That will probably get the headlines.’
Slot’s side face another crunch set of fixtueres this week as they look to maintain their lead at the top of the table.
On Wednesday, the Reds travel north to face Newcastle before returning for the Merseyside derby against Everton on Saturday.
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First-choice keeper Alisson Becker is closing in on his return to the starting XI but Slot insisted he was more than happy to wait until the Brazillian was fully fit given the excellent form of his understudy Caoimhin Kelleher.
‘I think I have been clear a few weeks ago about what my position is about our goalkeepers, but we are just waiting for Alisson to be completely fit because Caoimhin [Kelleher] is doing too well to put Alisson on goal if he’s only 50%,’ he said.
‘That would not be good for Alisson and it would not be good for the team. He’s getting there, it might take a few more extra days, but he’s getting closer.
‘Like I’ve always said, the end phase of a rehab is always the period where you feel like “okay, is he really there or does he need extra days?” But he will be in goal before the end of December if things continue like they are now.’
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