Liverpool will face Inter Milan away in Champions League Group Stage Round 6, and Reds goalkeeper Alisson Becker attended the pre-match press conference.
On Salah
Alisson: “It’s not an easy situation. As a team, we’re handling it as best we can. I have a good personal relationship with him – we’ve played together since I came to Europe, one year at Roma and seven at Liverpool. He’s a great guy with a good character, a Liverpool legend. We’ve achieved so much together, and personally, of course, I’m not happy this is happening. But in football, we don’t have much time to dwell on any situation. Tomorrow we face a huge challenge against a strong team. Inter Milan have had an excellent season, so my focus and the team’s focus are on the challenge ahead.”
Further on Salah
Alisson: “His inability to play is the consequence of his actions. He’s intelligent and should understand that. I haven’t spoken to Salah about this as I’d like to yet. We have a good relationship – not just teammates, but we’ve spent a lot of time together. We’re good friends. Sharing so many moments, happy and sad, creates a bond between people. I will talk to him, but it will be privately because it’s a personal matter.”
On the team atmosphere
Alisson: “Every player has their own thoughts on this situation, but we know the challenges we face. Underperforming and not getting the results we want has been tough enough. We have to change and be more consistent in our performances. Our personal feelings don’t matter much, but we want to respond appropriately tomorrow. Show Inter Milan the respect they deserve, fight to win, and do so with a good performance.”
Continuing on Salah
Alisson: “I hope he plays for the club again, but this is a private matter between Salah and the club. As his teammate and friend, we wish him well, but as Liverpool players, we want the best for the club. We hope it’s a win-win for him and the club. My relationship with the coach is fine.”
Rooney accused Salah of being disrespectful
Alisson: “I haven’t heard that myself. It may have an impact – it’s not a small matter, after all, it’s Salah. What’s happening speaks for itself. But we’re all adults, and I see this as a personal issue for me. I don’t think his intention was to disrespect anyone. I believe he has freedom of speech to talk about how he feels about his situation. We expect a player who is eager to play and unwilling to sit on the bench. Again, you have freedom of speech, but you have to face the consequences. I think that’s clear. As a team, our feelings don’t matter – what matters is how we respond, and that response is to stick together and fight. It’s not about what’s best for Salah or the team, but what’s best for the club.”
More on Salah
Alisson: “After the interview, I thought it would be strange, but it wasn’t. We know it’s a personal matter and respect that. We just played our last game on Saturday night, so there hasn’t been much time. The time we spend together in training is for resting, recovering, and focusing on a strong opponent. Inter Milan play well and are very strong. They have excellent forwards, midfielders, defenders, and a top goalkeeper.”
Salah is facing unfair criticism
Alisson: “I don’t pay much attention to what people say about him, so I’m not sure about the specific criticism. If he said he feels that way, he has the right to speak up. But criticism is part of football. My way of dealing with it is to try not to focus on it – not because I’m not interested, but because I have three kids at home and not much time! We have to be realistic about our situation and what needs to improve. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what’s wrong, but we’re focusing on it.”
Salah must fight for his place
Alisson: “In football, things change quickly. We play every three days. We just won the Premier League, which was an amazing achievement, and now we’re in this situation – we have to deal with it. That’s how football works, and we have to handle it. It’s part of playing for Liverpool. You have to compete at the highest level, and I try to do that, perform at my best, so I can also do my best for the team.”
Leadership from senior players
Alisson: “Yes, we certainly have it. Everyone expects a lot from us senior players to step up. The club expects it too, and that’s why we’re here. For me personally, I take that responsibility and feel it – what I can contribute to the team is more than just playing well. It’s also about supporting the younger players and new signings. We embody the Liverpool mentality and should pass that on to others – not just me, Van Dijk, and Robertson, but all players who have been here for a long time. Curtis Jones is a local lad, and we have many players who have been at Liverpool for more than two or three years who are also trying to step up – maybe not through interviews, but through actions. Acting on the pitch is what we expect from every leader.”
Still backing the manager?
Alisson: “Yes, of course.”
What makes you think that?
Alisson: “Look at last season’s Premier League. Before Slot arrived, everyone thought it would be a huge challenge. It seemed like everyone took what we achieved last season for granted. That should be enough – we believe in his knowledge, his coaching style, and his ability to turn things around. It’s not just about us; the club does too, they trust him. It’s not just his responsibility – as a player, I share it with him. Of course, he’s in charge of the tactics, but we also have to take responsibility and change things through our actions. It doesn’t make things easier, but we’re working hard. We’re eager to turn things around, and so is the coach. Let’s get back to the level we played at last season.”
Final thoughts on Salah
Alisson: “This situation makes us unhappy. Personally, we all like Salah – he’s a very important player for the team. He’s a great person and an outstanding footballer. He’s been crucial for the club, producing some amazing statistics. He’s won everything there is to win in his career. This situation isn’t good. We’re a bit surprised, but we know it’s a private matter, so we’ll leave it to Salah and the club to resolve. Our thoughts don’t matter. We hope he and the club can reach an agreement that’s best for him, the club, and all the players. As for tomorrow night’s game, we want to put in our best performance – you can expect a Liverpool side eager to show desire and improve the current situation. Play good football and win the game. It will never be easy, and we’re well aware that Inter are a very good team. We know it’s a huge challenge.”
