EPL: Salah, Slot tension eases as star returns for Brighton clash

Slot and Salah | Credit: Richard Martin-Roberts/ESPN

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Mohamed Salah will be part of Liverpool’s squad for Saturday’s Premier League clash against Brighton at Anfield, bringing a dramatic twist to a week dominated by tension, speculation and public fallout between the club’s talisman and head coach Arne Slot, BBC reports.

Slot had in a pre-Brighton press conference on Saturday when asked whether Salah will be involved against Brighton, said, “I will have a conversation with Mo this morning and the outcome of that conversation determines how it will look tomorrow.”

The decision followed positive talks between Salah and Slot on Friday, with sources indicating that the Liverpool manager was keen to act in the club’s best interests, especially as injuries continue to thin the squad.

While the immediate standoff has eased, underlying issues remain unresolved and are expected to be addressed further between Liverpool, Salah’s agent Ramy Abbas, and the player himself while he is away at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Salah’s inclusion marks a sharp turnaround from midweek, when the 33-year-old was omitted from the travelling squad for Liverpool’s Champions League trip to Inter Milan.

That decision came in the wake of an explosive interview at Elland Road after Liverpool’s 3-3 draw with Leeds, where Salah, benched for the third consecutive match, said his relationship with Slot had broken down and that he had been “thrown under the bus”.

The forward went even further, suggesting that Saturday’s fixture could be his farewell to Anfield, revealing that he had invited his mother to attend the game.

The comments sent shockwaves through the club and its supporters, casting doubt over the immediate future of one of Liverpool’s greatest modern-era players.

Slot sought to calm the situation in his pre-match news conference on Friday, insisting there were “no reasons to not want Mohamed Salah to stay” at the club.

While stopping short of offering guarantees, the Liverpool boss stressed that a direct conversation with the Egyptian forward would shape what comes next.

Liverpool enter the Brighton match under pressure, having drawn their last two league games. With kick-off set for 15:00 GMT, the Reds will be looking to regain momentum—and Salah’s return to the squad could prove decisive.

Despite his legendary status at Anfield, Salah has found himself on the fringes in recent weeks. He has been an unused substitute in two of Liverpool’s past three Premier League matches.

His last appearance came as a substitute in the 1-1 draw with Sunderland on 3 December, while his most recent start was the Champions League defeat to PSV Eindhoven on 26 November.

The timing of his return is significant. Liverpool are short of attacking options, with Cody Gakpo sidelined by a muscle injury and Alexander Isak struggling with a knock. Slot admitted that extensive discussions had taken place following the Sunderland game, involving both Salah and his representatives.

Salah is set to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday and could be absent from Merseyside until after the final on 18 January, should Egypt progress all the way in Morocco. In that scenario, he would miss up to eight Liverpool matches.

A Liverpool icon with 250 goals in 420 appearances, Salah has scored five goals in 18 outings across the Premier League and Champions League this season.

Whether Saturday’s match marks a turning point or merely a temporary truce remains to be seen—but for now, Salah is back in the picture as Liverpool seek stability on and off the pitch.

Tosin, with over six years' experience, conducts incisive interviews, pens engaging features, subedits and delivers impactful stories for the digital sphere.

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