Mohamed Salah is back in Liverpool’s matchday orbit. After a tense week of headlines, private talks between the Egyptian star and manager Arne Slot have cooled the temperature, and Salah has been named in the squad for Saturday’s Premier League clash against Brighton at Anfield.
British outlets report that Slot made the call himself—no committees, no noise—doing what he believes serves the club first. The Dutchman had promised a face-to-face with Salah following the forward’s very public frustration last weekend, and that conversation appears to have delivered alignment, at least for now.
The drama sparked after Salah was benched again in the 3–3 draw at Leeds, his third straight non-start. Post-match, he didn’t mince words, saying he’d been “thrown under the bus” and admitting he had no relationship with Slot. Ouch. The fallout saw him left out of the squad for a Champions League trip to Inter Milan, where Liverpool still ground out a 1–0 win. While the team traveled, Salah posted a solitary gym photo from the training ground—quiet, pointed, unmistakable.
Slot kept his cards close at the pre-match press conference, stressing that any real discussion about Salah belonged behind closed doors. He did, however, underline that he has “no reasons not wanting him to stay,” a corporate-grade signal that bridges haven’t been burned.
Context matters. Salah signed a fresh two-year deal in April, making him one of the Premier League’s top earners. He’s a Liverpool legend—250 goals in 420 games, two league titles, a Champions League crown—but this season has been rough: four league goals in 13 appearances as Liverpool slump to 10th after just two wins in their last 10.
Saturday could be a pivot point. It’s Salah’s final game before joining Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations, where his absence could stretch until mid-January depending on their run. Meanwhile, whispers of a Saudi Pro League move keep humming in the background—big money, big temptation.
Bottom line: Salah’s back in the squad, the manager’s authority is intact, and Liverpool need results yesterday. Old-school truth—great teams fix issues in the room, not the press. Forward-thinking reality—this is a crossroads. Brighton at home isn’t just a fixture; it’s a reset button. Let’s see who presses it.