Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has been named in the squad for Saturday’s Premier League match against Brighton after having constructive talks with head coach Arne Slot on Friday.
The decision comes as Slot aims to prioritize the club’s interests, especially with several players sidelined due to injuries.
While some issues remain unresolved, Liverpool and Salah’s agent, Ramy Abbas, will continue to address these matters while Salah participates in the Africa Cup of Nations.
The 33-year-old Salah was omitted from the traveling squad for Liverpool’s Champions League match against Inter Milan on Tuesday after expressing that his relationship with Slot had deteriorated, stating he felt “thrown under the bus.”
This statement followed Liverpool’s 3-3 draw against Leeds, where Salah was benched for the third consecutive game.
In that interview, he mentioned that Saturday’s match would be a chance to bid farewell to Anfield and that he had invited his mother to attend.
During his pre-match press conference on Friday, Slot expressed that there were “no reasons to not want Mohamed Salah to stay” at the club.
When asked about Salah’s future, especially after he signed a new two-year contract in April, Slot said, “I will have a conversation with Mo. The outcome of that conversation will determine how things will proceed.”
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Liverpool will host Brighton at Anfield at 15:00 GMT on Saturday, hoping to improve after two consecutive league draws.
Salah, who has netted 250 goals in 420 appearances for Liverpool, has been an unused substitute in two of the last three Premier League matches.
His last appearance was as a substitute in the 1-1 draw against Sunderland on December 3, and his most recent start was on November 26 during the Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven.
With Cody Gakpo out due to a muscle injury and Alexander Isak dealing with a knock, Liverpool is low on attacking options for Saturday’s match.
“After the Sunderland game, there were many discussions between his representatives and ours, as well as between him and me,” Slot noted.
Salah is scheduled to leave for the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday, and depending on how far Egypt progresses in the tournament, he may not return to Merseyside until after the final on January 18.
If Egypt reaches the final in Morocco, Salah could miss up to eight Liverpool matches.
This season, Salah has scored five goals in 18 appearances across the Premier League and Champions League.
