Oliver Kay: Salah a ‘total distraction’ for Liverpool ahead of Inter clash

Mohamed Salah’s omission from the Liverpool team facing Inter is a major talking point in Merseyside, causing ‘total distraction’ in the squad, says journalist Oliver Kay.

Serie A giants Inter are ready to welcome a troubled Liverpool side at San Siro tonight, but the eve of the game was shaken by the news that Salah would not make the trip to Italy following an explosive interview on Saturday.

What Salah said about Liverpool and Slot

The former Roma star said he had no relationship at all with Arne Slot, suggesting that club executives wanted him out.

The Liverpool situation is overall far from ideal as the Reds have lost three of the last five matches, winning just once and collecting two consecutive games prior to tonight’s away game at the Meazza.

Salah’s situation is creating a ‘lot of noise outside’ Liverpool

“I don’t think it’s an ideal situation going into a game the size they’ve got in the Champions League away to Inter on Tuesday night,” said The Athletic journalist Oliver Kay.

“It’s a total distraction; it’s creating a lot of noise outside noise ot the type that Liverpool had been very good at keeping out in recent years. They’ve looked like a stable, unified club; this creates a different scenario.

“If Liverpool win without him in Milan, it’d look like a statement victory that Slot and the team need, but I don’t think it would make the situation go away.”

Inter have earned 12 points in the opening five Champions League games, winning four times and losing once. Liverpool, on the other hand, have nine points in five games, with three wins and two losses.