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Salah back in action as Liverpool defeat Brighton
Mohamed Salah made his return to Liverpool's lineup as a substitute in the club's 2-0 Premier League victory over Brighton on Saturday, marking the end of a week of tension between the forward and manager Arne Slot.
No lingering issues, says Slot
Slot addressed the controversy surrounding Salah's future after the match, stating that there is "no issue for me to resolve." The Dutch manager emphasized that Salah is now treated like any other player, following the Egyptian's emotional outburst last weekend, where he claimed he had been "thrown under the bus" by the club.
"For me, he is now the same as any other player. There is nothing for me to talk about after what happened against Leeds," Slot said, referring to Liverpool's previous match.
Salah's future remains uncertain
Despite the public reconciliation, Salah's long-term future at Liverpool is still unclear. The 33-year-old, who has scored 250 goals for the club over eight years, suggested last week that his appearance against Brighton could be his final game for the Reds. However, Slot dismissed the idea of a permanent departure.
Asked if he wanted Salah to return after the Africa Cup of Nations, Slot replied, "That I think you already know the answer." He added that their private meeting on Friday had been positive, though he declined to share details.
Record-breaking performance
Salah entered the game in the 26th minute as a replacement for the injured Joe Gomez and contributed an assist for Hugo Ekitike's second goal. His involvement took him to 277 goal contributions in 302 Premier League appearances for Liverpool, surpassing Wayne Rooney's record of 276 for Manchester United.
Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock praised Salah's performance, noting that the forward had shown glimpses of his best form despite a challenging week. "He needs to build up his confidence," Warnock said on Final Score.
Fans show support amid uncertainty
Liverpool supporters greeted Salah with applause and chants of his signature song, "Egyptian King," as he applauded all four sides of Anfield at full-time. There were no boos, only appreciation for his contributions to the club.
Former Blackburn striker Chris Sutton commented on the mixed emotions surrounding Salah's future. "Is he going to stay or is he going to go? But it's been a good week for Slot," Sutton said. "I don't think it was a goodbye."
Liverpool's resilience without Salah
Liverpool have remained unbeaten in the past five games, even without Salah starting in any of them. This has given Slot confidence in the team's depth, though he acknowledged that having Salah at his best would be a significant advantage.
"I spoke to him yesterday, and as I usually never say anything about what we talk about, I am not going to make an exception now. But I think actions speak louder than what has been said, and he was in the squad again."
Arne Slot
Next steps for Salah
Salah will now join Egypt's national team in Cairo to prepare for the Africa Cup of Nations, which begins later this month. He could miss up to eight Liverpool matches if Egypt reaches the final on January 18. Talks between Salah and the club are expected to continue during his absence.
