MILAN (AP) — Liverpool fans showed which side they are on in the dispute between club great Mohamed Salah and Arne Slot.
The traveling group of around 5,000 supporters loudly chanted Slot’s name before and after Tuesday’s 1-0 win at Inter Milan in the Champions League, in an unequivocal show of support for the Liverpool coach.
Slot had dropped Salah from the squad that traveled to Italy following the forward’s stinging public criticism of the club on Saturday.
“That means a lot to me,” Slot said about the fans’ support. “But it’s not about me, it’s about the team. And they were also there for the team.
“So many away fans in difficult circumstances for the club and it shows you one more time: If things go against us or if there’s a hard time, we’re all there for each other and we fight together and that’s what the fans of the players showed today.”
Salah has established himself as one of Liverpool’s greatest players — winning two Premier League titles, the Champions League and a host of other trophies.
Last season he was named player of the year for the third time after scoring 34 goals in all competitions and firing Liverpool to a record-equaling 20th league title.
But his form has dipped during a troubled start to the season for Liverpool, which is 10th in the Premier League.
Salah had lashed out Saturday after he was benched for the third game in a row, saying it “seems like the club has thrown me under the bus,” and he doesn’t have “any relationship” with Slot.
Following the fallout from his comments, Salah posted Tuesday a picture for his 85 million followers across Instagram and X of him alone in the gym at Liverpool’s training complex.
Slot said on the eve of the match in Milan that he had “no clue” whether Salah would play again for the club and he tried to swerve further questions about the Anfield icon's future on Tuesday.
“Where I stand is that tonight it should be all about the players that are here,” Slot said. “In the rich history Liverpool have, they had many of these evenings but, in the season we are in, I think if you have an away win in this stadium against such a strong team then it should be about the midfield ... or about the ones that are here.
“They deserve all the credits. I can fully understand on Friday that I will get a lot of questions about other things. But tonight it should be about the ones that are here.”
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Liverpool's manager Arne Slot winks after the Champions League, league phase, soccer match between Inter Milan and Liverpool in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Dec.9, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Liverpool's manager Arne Slot hugs Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister at the end of a Champions League, league phase, soccer match between Inter Milan and Liverpool in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Dec.9, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Liverpool's manager Arne Slot applauds at the end of a Champions League, league phase, soccer match between Inter Milan and Liverpool in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Dec.9, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Mike Trout, the U.S. captain at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, remains under consideration as the roster for the 2026 tournament takes shape.
Manager Mark DeRosa said Tuesday that Trout is “in the mix” for one of the final spots, assuming Trout is healthy and comfortable with his role.
“We’re talking to him, we’re talking to a couple other players, and trying to figure out what Mike wants to do,” DeRosa said at the winter meetings.
The three-time American League MVP remains in a complicated place for the U.S., scheduled to play its first game of the tournament March 6 against Brazil in Houston.
A bruised left knee sent him to the injured list in May. It’s the same knee that required meniscus surgery in 2024, and the lingering issues kept him mostly at designated hitter last season. He still hit 26 home runs in 130 games, but his .232/.359/.439 slash line and elevated strikeout rate fueled questions about his health and WBC availability.
Trout has to weigh the spring training tournament against preparing for his 16th major league season. And DeRosa has to weigh carrying a full-time DH on a short, high-leverage roster.
“He’s got to be ready for ’26 with the Angels,” DeRosa said. “He didn’t play much defensively, if at all, so it’s a give and take — what he wants to do, what he feels comfortable with.”
The U.S. announced four more position players on Tuesday: designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, infielders Gunnar Henderson and Brice Turang and catcher Will Smith. They join captain Aaron Judge, outfielders Corbin Carroll and Pete Crow-Armstrong, and catcher Cal Raleigh.
National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes heads pitchers that include left-hander Matthew Boyd and reliever Garrett Whitlock.
General manager Mike Hill said his focus shifts heavily to pitching.
“We were respectful of everyone’s season and making sure they got through healthy,” Hill said. “Now that we’re into the offseason and gearing up for the tournament, we’ll amp up our pitching process. We’ll be spending the next few weeks finalizing the roster and trying to build the deepest staff we can.”
Two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal remains high on the wish list.
“We want our best to participate,” Hill said. “He is obviously the two time reigning Cy Young Award winner, so there’s no question about his ability with all of our pitching. You know, we’re trying.”
Mexico announced Tuesday that outfielders Jarren Duran and Randy Arozarena will play for it. Australia said reliever Liam Hendriks will be on its roster. The Dominican Republic this week added infielder Elly De La Cruz and third baseman Junior Caminero.
DeRosa said his goal is to build a roster with defense, speed, versatility, balance. DeRosa is fueled by the 3-2 loss to Japan in the 2023 final, when Shohei Ohtani ended the game by striking out then-Angels teammate Trout.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
FILE - Los Angeles Angels' Mike Trout celebrates after his solo home run against the Houston Astros during the first inning of a baseball game, Sept. 28, 2025, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij, File)
