Slot tight-lipped over Salah's return to Liverpool team

Arne Slot would not confirm whether Mohamed Salah will return to Liverpool’s team for Wednesday’s Premier League match against Sunderland at Anfield, after the Egyptian was left on the bench during the 2-0 win at West Ham United on Sunday.

Forward Salah, fourth on the all-time list of leading Premier League goalscorers, is due to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations on December 15.

“It’s a normal reaction from a player that is good enough to play for us (to be disappointed),” manager Slot told reporters on Tuesday. “He has been so outstanding for this club for so many years and will be for the future.

“He wasn’t the only one not happy that he wasn’t starting. The way he behaved is what you would expect from the professional he is. For Mo, he is so disciplined and knows what to do to stay fit.”

Salah’s last game before the Nations Cup is expected to be against Brighton on December 13, and, if Egypt reach the final, he would miss seven Liverpool matches.

WORST RUN IN MORE THAN 70 YEARS

The champions are eighth in the table on 21 points, nine behind leaders Arsenal, after their worst 12-game stretch across all competitions in more than 70 years.

Slot’s men have lost their last two home games, but Sunderland, who are sixth on 22 points, have not won at Anfield since 1983.

A positive for Slot is the form of record signing Alexander Isak, who scored his first Premier League in eight appearances for his new team against West Ham.

Florian Wirtz also returned after missing two games with an injury, while Joe Gomez made his first top-flight start for 11 months.

Sunderland is the first of three games in six days for Liverpool, including a Champions League match at Inter Milan next Tuesday.

“It was encouraging to see Florian playing that well, it was not the first time he has played well for us. And also Alex as well,” Slot said.

“(Isak) told me yesterday he felt a bit of cramp coming up already, so we will see how he trains today.

“I think (Isak, Wirtz and Gomez) are not able to play three 90 minutes in a week, that’s for sure. All three are able to play in all three games if they don’t get an injury.”