Arne Confirms Salah Out for Final Derby – Praises Strong Manchester United Under Carrick

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has confirmed that Mohamed Salah will miss this weekend's final Merseyside Derby against Manchester United, while also expressing respect for the Red Devils as a formidable team under Michael Carrick. Salah sustained a muscle injury in Liverpool's 3-1 win over Crystal Palace last weekend, with the club initially describing it as a minor injury that should see him return later in the season. However, in his latest press conference ahead of Liverpool's visit to Manchester United on May 3rd, Slot definitively ruled out both Salah and goalkeeper Alisson Becker from the fixture. "He always works incredibly hard during the season, regardless of whether he's fit or not," Slot said of Salah. "When he gets injured, he tries to return as quickly as possible. Usually he recovers faster than other players. He has a minor injury, and we expect and want him back in the final stages of the season, but not on Sunday." Regarding Alisson, Slot noted: "He hasn't trained with us yet, but he's close. We'll know from the medical team today whether he can train. We don't want to take any risks. The comeback process is different for outfield players and goalkeepers." Slot also commented on Manchester United's form under Carrick, noting that the club performed better than their league position suggested last season. "After they made new signings in the transfer market, we've already seen how good they are," he explained. "Playing just once a week might give them a slight advantage, but when I analyze them, I can see how strong they are, and that remains the case now. They have more consistent results recently."