'Usually I'm calm, I'm polite but it doesn't mean I'm weak'

ARNE TAKES HARD STANCE AND WILL TAKE NO MO NONSENSE

- IAN DOYLE

THE last time Liverpool were on their travels in the Champions League, problems with the plane meant they were unable to turn up for the usual prematch press conference.

On this latest journey into Europe, however, the focus was entirely on whether just one individual would make the trip.

It transpired that Mo Salah's explosive interview having been left on the bench for Saturday's 3-3 draw at Leeds was sufficient for the club, in consultation with head coach Arne Slot, to remove the Egyptian from selection for tonight's Champions League clash at Inter Milan.

Casting doubt on Salah's Liverpool future, the reverberations of his premeditated outburst are likely to resonate for long after the winger has departed for the Africa Cup of Nations after the weekend.

The primary issue now for Slot is to negotiate a tie which, while already tricky, has become even more difficult.

He said: "We are sitting here on an evening before a big game for us. You can understand that I've tried to prepare my team in the best possible way.

"In the meantime we decided not to bring (Salah) with us to this game and then after we will look at the situation again.

Salah's comments about being "thrown under the bus" and that he is being scapegoated for Liverpool's ongoing poor form have been interpreted as indirect criticism of the Reds boss.