Mohamed Salah back in Liverpool’s squad after positive talks with Arne Slot

The drama between Arne Slot and Mohamed Salah has officially ended after the pair held positive talks yesterday. The Egyptian was benched for three consecutive matches and reacted angrily after the draw against Leeds. In an interview, Salah said he was “thrown under the bus” by the club and claimed he had “no relationship” with Slot.

As a result, Salah was left out of the squad for the match against Inter Milan, which Liverpool went on to win, securing their fourth victory in the Champions League. 

Over the past week, Slot was repeatedly asked by the media about his relationship with Salah. He insisted there was no issue and confirmed that talks would take place to resolve the situation. At the pre-match press conference ahead of the Brighton match, Slot said: “I have no reason not to want him to stay, if that answers the question.”

Talks between the coach and the player were finally held. According to a report from the Daily Mail, the discussions were positive for both sides, with Salah set to return to the squad tonight. However, this does not necessarily mean Salah will stay at the club until the end of his contract.

After the Brighton match, Salah will return to Egypt to prepare for the AFCON, which begins in late December. While the player is competing in Morocco, representatives of both Salah and the club are expected to hold further talks regarding his future. If negotiations do not progress positively, there remains a chance that Salah could leave the club when the transfer window opens.

Despite the positive outcome of the talks, it remains unclear whether Slot will start Salah against Brighton. Liverpool have recently switched to a 4-4-2 formation with a midfield diamond, which does not naturally include wingers. However, with Alexander Isak injured, Salah could start as a striker alongside Hugo Ekitike.

Liverpool will face Brighton tonight at 10 PM (GMT+7). Slot’s side currently sit 10th in the Premier League table with 23 points, and a win could see them climb back into the top five, with fourth-placed Crystal Palace on 26 points.