London, 20 December 2025 (PA Media/dpa/MIA) - Curtis Jones said Mohamed Salah apologized to his Liverpool team-mates after criticizing head coach Arne Slot and the club in an interview.

Salah was removed from selection for the 1-0 Champions League win over Inter Milan last week after he said he no longer had a relationship with Slot and that he has been “thrown under the bus” following the draw away to Leeds.

The Egypt international returned to the squad last weekend after talks with the manager and set up Hugo Ekitike’s second goal in the 2-0 win over Brighton having come off the bench during the first half.

Salah has since departed to join up with his national team ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations campaign.

Speaking to Sky Sports on Saturday, Jones said: “Mo is his own man and he can say his own stuff. He apologized to us and was like, ‘If I’ve affected anybody or made you feel any sort of way, I apologize.’ That’s the man that he is.

“I can only speak from me knowing Mo and how he is with us and how he acted on that. He was positive as well.

“He was the exact same Mo, he had a big smile on his face and everybody was exactly the same with him. I guess it’s just part of wanting to be a winner and I don’t think he will be the last.”

Liverpool are five games unbeaten since losing 4-1 at home to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League at Anfield, prompting hope a corner may have been turned in what has been a troubled season.

“We’re past that now and we’re gelling well as a team, playing well and starting to win games,” Jones said.

They are in north London to play Tottenham later on Saturday.

Photo: EPA