Mohamed Salah has been named among Liverpool’s players for Saturday’s Premier League fixture against Brighton at Anfield, following internal talks with head coach Arne Slot, as reported by several outlets in the United Kingdom.
Mohamed Salah has been named among Liverpool’s players for Saturday’s Premier League fixture against Brighton at Anfield, following internal talks with head coach Arne Slot, as reported by several outlets in the United Kingdom.
Reports from BBC and Sky Sports indicated that the final call rested with Slot, who had previously underlined that any decision would be guided solely by what benefits the club.
The Liverpool manager had planned a face-to-face meeting with the Egyptian forward on Friday morning, after comments made by the player last weekend sparked debate about his long-term position at the club and resulted in his exclusion from the travelling party for the midweek Champions League trip to Italy.
The situation escalated after Salah publicly criticized the club, claiming he had been unfairly blamed when he was left out of the starting lineup during the 3-3 draw away at Leeds, marking the third consecutive league match he did not begin.
Speaking to journalists at Elland Road, the forward also stated that there was no personal connection between himself and Slot, adding to the scrutiny surrounding his status.
Despite the controversy, Liverpool secured a 1-0 victory over Inter Milan on Tuesday. On the same day, Salah shared an image on social media showing himself training alone at the club’s facilities.
Slot later explained at a press briefing that the outcome of his private exchange with the player would shape selection choices, while stressing that such matters were best handled away from the media spotlight.
The Dutch coach confirmed that multiple discussions had already taken place after the December 3 draw with Sunderland, involving both the player directly and representatives from both sides, and reiterated that he had no desire to see Salah depart.
The 33-year-old agreed to a fresh two-year deal in April, placing him among the league’s top earners, and is set to link up with Egypt after the Brighton match for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
His time away will depend on Egypt’s progress, with the tournament concluding on January 18. Salah stands third on Liverpool’s all-time scoring list with 250 goals from 420 appearances and has lifted two league titles along with one Champions League trophy.
Although he netted 29 times in the Premier League last season during Liverpool’s run to a 20th domestic crown, his current campaign has brought only four league goals from 13 outings, as the club sits 10th following just two victories in their last 10 matches.
