Egyptian winger Mohamed Salah has been included in Liverpool's squad to face Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday after talks with head coach Arne Slot. Photo: AFP
Slot had previously insisted he would have the final say on whether to recall the star winger, who was excluded from the squad that secured a 1-0 Champions League victory against Inter Milan on Tuesday, following Salah's explosive comments last weekend.
After the 3-3 league draw at Leeds United last Saturday, the 33-year-old stated that his relationship with the Liverpool boss had broken down, claiming he had been “thrown under the bus” regarding recent results, and even suggested that this Saturday’s game could be his final appearance for the club.
Support and Criticism
Salah's frustrated remarks have split opinion among English pundits and fans. Several high-profile former players, including Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard, Gary Neville, Paul Merson, and Italian great Antonio Cassano, rushed to the Egyptian's defense.
Cassano specifically took aim at ever-critical pundit Jamie Carragher.
The support was also fervent from home, with a number of Egyptian players and officials, including national team coach Hossam Hassan, publicly backing the Pharaohs’ skipper.
Media reports claimed that Saudi Arabian clubs are set to return to hunt Salah and will do “whatever they can" to recruit the unsettled Liverpool star during the upcoming winter transfer window next January.
However, speaking at his press conference, Slot intimated there would have to be some form of resolution from Salah for him to be reintegrated into the squad for what will be his last match before departing for the AFCON on Monday.
"I will have a conversation with Mo this morning, the outcome of that conversation determines how things will look tomorrow," Slot said during the pre-match press conference.
"I think the next time I speak about Mo should be with him and not in here. You can keep on trying but there is not much more to say about it.
"After the Sunderland game (a 1-1 draw on 3 December in which Salah came on as a second-half substitute) there were a lot of conversations between his representatives and ours, between him and me."
Slot fielded further questions about the Egyptian forward, adding: "I have no reasons not wanting him to stay, and that is a little bit of an answer to your question."
Salah, who signed a new two-year contract at Liverpool in April which made him one of the highest-paid players in the Premier League, is due to join the Egypt squad for the Africa Cup of Nations after Saturday's Brighton game at Anfield.
The Pharaohs have been drawn in Group B, alongside South Africa, Angola and Zimbabwe, kicking off their campaign against the latter on 22 December.
The length of his absence depends on how far Egypt progresses in the competition in Morocco, with the final taking place on 18 January.
Salah, who sits third in Liverpool's all-time scoring charts with 250 goals in 420 appearances, has won two Premier League titles and one Champions League triumph during his spell on Merseyside.
He scored 29 Premier League goals last season as Liverpool clinched their 20th English league title, but he has managed just four league goals in 13 appearances this season.
Liverpool currently sit 10th in the league table following a poor run of form, securing just two wins in their past ten Premier League games.
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