Inter Milan manager Cristian Chivu has said Liverpool are “not just one individual” as the Italian side prepare to face opponents who are likely to leave out Mohamed Salah in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Salah scored when the teams met in the 2021/22 last 16 but is expected to be absent from the Reds’ squad travelling to Milan following an explosive interview by the forward about his relationship with the club and head coach Arne Slot on Saturday.
“We know what Mo represents in football,” said Chivu, via Inter TV.” There are players who can replace him. It’s about a strong team, not just one individual.”
Mohamed Salah: What did forward say in Liverpool interview?
After a 3-3 draw at Leeds United on Saturday that left Liverpool 10 points off the pace in the English top flight, Salah told reporters: “I have done so much for this club down the years, and especially last season.
“Now I’m sitting on the bench and I don’t know why. I said many times before that I had a good relationship with the manager, and all of a sudden we don’t have any relationship.
“It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That is how I am feeling. I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame.
“It is not acceptable for me. I don’t know why this is happening to me. I don’t get it. I think if this was somewhere else, every club would protect its player.
“How I see it now is like ‘you throw Mo under the bus because he is the problem in the team now’. But I don’t think I am the problem. I have done so much for this club.
“The respect, I want to get. I don’t have to go every day fighting for my position because I earned it. I am not bigger than anyone, but I earned my position. It’s football. It is what it is.”
Inter vs Liverpool: Chivu on Champions League
Fourth-placed Inter, who reached the Champions League final last season and are second in Italy, are in the automatic qualification places for the last 16 and three points ahead of Slot’s side.
“Liverpool have intensity as their motto,” said Chivu, discussing visitors with one win in their last six matches in all competitions, including a 4-1 home defeat by PSV in their last European game.
Thuram si prende sempre cura dei compagni 🫂🥹 pic.twitter.com/cjgYjx67RB
— Inter ⭐⭐ (@Inter) December 8, 2025
“They managed to start the season well, then had some difficulties. They are one of the most important clubs in the world. They represent British football, which is different from ours.”
Mohamed Salah: Liverpool stats
Salah top-scored in the Premier League as the Reds won the title in 2024/25 and has netted five times in 18 games in all competitions this season.
The 33-year-old Egypt captain has 250 goals in 420 Liverpool appearances but has not started for three matches, remaining an unused substitute at Elland Road.
Salah signed a new two-year contract in April and contributed three goals and four assists in nine appearances to help Liverpool reach the last 16 of the Champions League last season, losing at home on penalties to Paris Saint-Germain.
The six-time European champions have won three and lost two of their matches in the league phase this season. Salah has one goal and one assist across those games.
The 2018/19 Champions League winner with the club trained with his teammates on Monday morning. Slot will speak to the media after Liverpool arrive in Milan on Monday evening.
Mohamed Salah salary
Two-time African Footballer of the Year Salah previously signed a new deal in July 2022 making him the highest-paid player in Liverpool’s history.
The 32-year-old’s lawyer and adviser, Ramy Abbas Issa, told a Harvard Business School study in 2023 that Salah earns at least £1 million a week in total income, boosted by factors such as his lucrative endorsements.
“Renewing at Liverpool would be one of the biggest milestones of my career,” Salah said in the study, via The Guardian.
“But we have to do this the right way. I’ve learned throughout my career that if you want to be successful, it is important to invest in yourself not just physically but also mentally.”
Inter vs Liverpool: Reds’ Champions League fixtures, results
Liverpool are 13th in the Champions League table with three matches of the league phase remaining.
Here are their results and remaining fixtures in the league phase. All matches start at 20:00 GMT / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT.
Wednesday September 17: Liverpool 3-2 Atleti
Tuesday, September 30: Galatasaray 1-0 Liverpool
Wednesday, October 22: Frankfurt 1-5 Liverpool
Tuesday, November 4: Liverpool 1-0 Real Madrid
Wednesday, November 26: Liverpool 1-4 PSV
Tuesday, December 9: Inter vs Liverpool
Wednesday, January 21: Marseille vs Liverpool
Wednesday, January 28: Liverpool vs Qarabag
How to watch Inter vs Liverpool: TV channel, live stream
Inter vs Liverpool starts at 20:00 GMT (15:00 ET / 12:00 PT) on Tuesday and is being shown live in the UK on Amazon Prime Video.
Amazon have first pick of the Tuesday games, with all the other matches shown on TNT Sports. BBC Sport also has highlights rights.
A Prime Video membership is £8.99 per month or £95 per year paid annually, with a half-price offer for fans aged between 18 and 22.
Membership includes unlimited delivery on a huge selection of Amazon items and a range of other perks such as movies, series, documentaries and photo storage.
The dedicated Prime Video app allows fans to live-stream the game on a vast range of devices including smart TVs and gaming consoles.
