January 16 – Mohamed Salah is set to return to Liverpool next week following the conclusion of his Africa Cup of Nations campaign, with head coach Arne Slot striking a conciliatory tone despite the forward’s public comments before leaving for the tournament.
Salah will head back to Merseyside after Egypt’s third-place play-off against Nigeria on Saturday, bringing to an end a month away on international duty. The 33-year-old departed for AFCON amid controversy, having claimed in an explosive interview that “someone doesn’t want me at the club” and that he no longer had any relationship with Slot.
Slot, who had previously admitted he had “no clue” whether Salah had played his final game for Liverpool, is now preparing to reintegrate his leading scorer.
“I am happy that he comes back,” Slot said. “Mo has been so important for this club, for me, so I am happy that he is back. Even if I had 15 attackers, I still would have been happy if he came back.”
Salah’s return follows another near miss on the international stage. Egypt were knocked out at the semi-final stage on Wednesday night, losing 1–0 to Senegal in Tangier. Sadio Mané struck the decisive goal 12 minutes from time, denying Salah another chance to lift the AFCON trophy and extending Egypt’s wait for a first title since 2010.
It was also the third time Mané has come out on top against his former Liverpool team-mate in a major international meeting, having previously beaten Egypt in the 2022 AFCON final and a World Cup qualifying play-off later that year.
Despite the disappointment, Salah left the tournament with a much-needed upturn in form, recording four goals and an assist across five matches. Liverpool, meanwhile, are unbeaten in six games since his departure, winning three, though they have at times struggled for goals with record signing Alexander Isak and new face Hugo Ekitike ruled out for parts of that period by injury.
With Isak now sidelined for several months with a broken leg, Slot is likely to welcome the boost in attacking options – including a potential new addition before the January window shuts. No decision has yet been taken on whether Salah will be involved in Wednesday’s Champions League trip to Marseille or eased back at Bournemouth the following week.
“What happens between Mo and me stays between the two of us,” Slot added. “I don’t think it’s necessary to share private conversations.”
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1768574453labto1768574453ofdlr1768574453owedi1768574453sni@g1768574453niwe.1768574453yrrah1768574453
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