Liverpool manager, Arne Slot, has announced plans to hold further talks with star winger Mohamed Salah about his future at the club. This comes amidst growing speculation about the player's dissatisfaction with his current role in the team.
Salah recently expressed discontentment after being left out of the squad for Tuesday's Champions League game against Inter Milan. He claimed he had been "thrown under the bus" by Liverpool following Saturday’s draw at Leeds. The 33-year-old Egyptian forward also asserted that he had "earned his place" in the team during a media interaction at Elland Road.
Despite recent controversies, there is no denying that Mohamed Salah has been instrumental for Liverpool since joining them. He has scored an impressive 250 goals in 420 appearances for the Reds. However, he was an unused substitute in two of their past three Premier League games.
His last appearance on field was during a 1-1 draw against Sunderland on December 3rd when he came off as a substitute. His last start dates back to November 26th when Liverpool faced defeat by PSV Eindhoven in a Champions League match. This season alone, despite limited appearances, Salah managed to score five goals across Premier League and Champions League matches combined.
Upcoming challenges
As Liverpool prepares to host Brighton at Anfield this Saturday, they aim to recover from consecutive draws in league matches. It remains uncertain whether or not Salah will be part of this crucial match-up given recent events. Adding more uncertainty is Egypt’s participation in Africa Cup of Nations starting Monday which could see him away from Merseyside until after January 18th depending upon Egypt’s progress through competition stages.
While Slot admitted he had "no clue" if Salah had played his final game for Liverpool, he expressed belief in the possibility of a player returning to the fold. This statement comes amidst rumours linking Salah with a move to Saudi Arabia last summer. The interest still persists according to Saudi Pro League chief executive Omar Mugharbel, who confirmed that Salah is indeed a target for clubs.
Arne Slot, Liverpool manager, said:
"I have no reasons to not want him to stay. I will have a conversation with Mo,"
"The outcome of that conversation determines how things will look [on Saturday]. We decided as a club - and I was part of that decision - not to take him to Milan,"
"I am always in contact with them [sporting director Richard Hughes and chief executive Michael Edwards] but when it comes to the decision making of the line-up or the squad, they leave that open to me."
As Liverpool and its fans await further clarity on Salah's future at Anfield, it's clear that his contributions have been significant. His potential departure could leave big shoes to fill.
