Liverpool Have Progressed Past Salah Row, Confident Slot States

Arne Slot stated that Liverpool have "progressed" beyond the controversy sparked by Mohamed Salah's heated reaction to being benched, and the team is beginning to shape into the unit he envisions.

The Reds will start a potential month without Salah, who is playing for Egypt in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with an away match against Tottenham on Saturday.

Following a poor streak of nine losses in 12 matches, Slot has stabilised things with five straight games without defeat, none of which saw Salah starting.

"Actions are more telling than words. We have progressed," Slot explained to journalists on Friday, alluding to substituting Salah in last week's 2-0 win versus Brighton.

"Currently he is at the AFCON competing in major matches for himself and his nation. His full attention is there, and there is no need for me to add anything as we have moved forward since the Leeds discussion and he featured against Brighton."

Even with a challenging second year for Slot in England, Liverpool hold seventh place in the Premier League and could climb into the top four by beating the faltering Spurs.

The Premier League title holders revamped their roster during the summer transfer period, investing almost £450 million ($602 million) to sign Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez.

Besides the standout Ekitike, the fresh arrivals have underperformed, and Slot admitted he was perhaps too hopeful about the time needed for his revamped team to gel and deliver steadily. 

"I believe we are drawing nearer to the squad I aim for us to become, and that journey has included highs and lows," the Dutch coach remarked.

"Yet for me, that feels entirely logical due to the alterations we implemented in the summer, which we did deliberately as we felt they were essential.

"To be totally candid, perhaps I did not anticipate it would require quite as much time as it has, but upon reflection now, I realise I was overly optimistic since integrating a new collective where not everyone is fully prepared for every match, 90 minutes at this level of intensity, demands adjustment.

"At times a player can feature, at others not. Thus it requires some period, and we have faced considerable misfortune."

Joe Gomez and Cody Gakpo will sit out the Tottenham visit because of injuries, though Slot expects Dominik Szoboszlai will be available to begin. Frimpong is back following a two-month layoff.