Egypt exit ends Salah’s latest AFCON title bid while uncertainty lingers over his Anfield future
Mohamed Salah will be back in contention for Liverpool next week after his Africa Cup of Nations campaign came to an end, with manager Arne Slot confirming the forward’s imminent return to Merseyside.
The Liverpool winger saw his hopes of lifting the continental trophy with Egypt dashed on Wednesday night, as they were beaten 1-0 by Senegal in the semi-finals.
Salah, who scored four goals in five matches during this year’s competition, is expected to play once more for Egypt on Saturday in the third place play off against Nigeria.
That fixture means he will miss Liverpool’s Premier League clash with Burnley at Anfield, but Slot made it clear that the club will welcome him straight back into the fold after international duty.
“First of all, he plays a big game for Egypt on Saturday, and then he comes back to us,” Slot said. “I am happy he comes back. Mo has been so important for this club and me, so I am happy he is back. Even if I had 15 attackers, I would be happy to see Mo back, but that is not our situation.
“Happy to have him back after an important game tomorrow.”
AFCON disappointment brings club tensions back into focus
Salah’s return to Liverpool comes at a delicate moment. While his performances for Egypt once again highlighted his quality and consistency on the international stage, his standing at club level has been the subject of intense scrutiny throughout January.
That tension erupted publicly after Liverpool’s match against Leeds earlier this month, when Salah delivered a remarkably candid assessment of his situation. The 33-year-old suggested he had been unfairly blamed for the club’s struggles and questioned his relationship with Slot.
“I’m very, very disappointed. I have done so much for this club down the years and especially last season,” Salah said. “Now I’m sitting on the bench and I don’t know why. It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That is how I am feeling. I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame.
“I got a lot of promises in the summer and so far I am on the bench for three games, so I can’t say they keep the promises. I said many times before that I had a good relationship with the manager and all of a sudden, we don’t have any relationship. I don’t know why, but it seems to me, how I see it, that someone doesn’t want me in the club.”
Following their home outing against Burnley on Saturday, Liverpool are set to play away at Marseille in the Champions League on Wednesday. It remains to be seen if Salah will make the matchday squad or whether he will be given some extra days to rest.