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Liverpool manager Arne Slot admitted Mohamed Salah deserves to be talked about after recent absences, simply because of how important he has been for the club over his career. Salah was an unused substitute at West Ham and only managed 45 minutes from the bench against Sunderland, with speculation over a summer exit growing.

Salah has been linked with a Saudi Pro Leaguemove in the past, and there have been recent suggestion a renewed approach could arrive in January. And the manager recognised it was 'normal' for people to talk about the Egypt international.

Reflecting on Salah's absence from the starting line-up of late, Slot told reporters: "I think for every player in my mind can start and Mo is an exceptional player for us. He always in my mind to either start or to come [off the bench].

"The chatter, yes [I understand it] because he deserves that, he has been so influential for me and six or seven years. It's completely normal people talk about it when he isn't [playing]."

Liverpool take on Leeds in the Premier League this weekend, and Salah has an impressive record against the Yorkshire side. He has nine goals across six league meetings, including a hat-trick back in 2020.

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"Yesterday I looked at Leeds vs Chelsea and I thought I saw a Liverpool game - Chelsea conceding a set-piece and for the third goal making a big, big error," Slot said when discussing the upcoming opponents. "It was very difficult for them [Chelsea] because Leeds either went very aggressive with a one v one or went to a low block and it was really hard to create chances, so it's not only difficult for us, that playing style, it's difficult for many teams.

"What we expect is what we have seen in the second half against City, when they were 2-0 down coming back to 2-2. Eventually [Phil] Foden made the difference with a moment of magic for City and against Chelsea they were really strong, played really aggressive. We know what to expect, but what we expect is what we have faced in nearly all our games, with the exception of two."

In the last game against Sunderland, Liverpool relied on some desperate defending from Federico Chiesa to stave off defeat. The substitute raced back to clear a late Wilson Isidor effort off the line, and Slot was asked about handing Chiesa a rare start against Leeds.

"Every player has a possibility to start but we have many options to start in his position," Slot said. "So many times, he has had an impact a few times, so normally you bring a striker in to score but he in this situation kept on running when a player might stop ansd think they cannot do a lot one-v-one so that says a lot about his mentality to not concede."

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