Unsettled forward Mohamed Salah is set to return to Liverpool on Sunday, once his AFCON duty in Egypt is over.
Published on January 16, 2026
Liverpool manager Arne Slott said the Premier League champions would welcome Mohamed Salah even with 15 attackers, as the Egypt forward nears his return from the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Salah will play in Egypt’s third-place play-off match against Nigeria in Morocco on Saturday, succeeding Pharaoh. Lost in AFCON semi-final Against Senegal.
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His impending return has been a major talking point since he took aim at the club in an explosive interview in early December.
Salah accused Liverpool of dumping him.under the bus” after benching him for three consecutive games, and saying it had nothing to do with the manager slot.
The 33-year-old was then ruled out for the Reds’ Champions League match at Inter Milan. Interest grew About signing an unsettled star in the Saudi Pro League.
But he appeared as an alternative On 13 December, he provided an assist in a 2–0 Premier League win against Brighton, and Slott was later named by the club. had moved on from anger.
Slott, whose fourth-placed side struggled against Burnley on Saturday, was asked at his pre-match news conference on Sunday about Salah’s return.
“First of all, he has to play another big game for Egypt on Saturday,” the Dutchman said.
“And then he came back to us, and I’m glad he’s back. Mo is very important to this club, to me, so I’m glad he’s back.
“Because even if I had 15 attackers, I would have been happy if he was back, but that’s not the situation we have now. So I’m happy to have him back after an important game he still has to play.”
Salah scored 29 Premier League goals to win the Premier League Golden Boot as Liverpool won their 20th English League title, but scored just four league goals during the current campaign.
Slott was asked when he expected Salah to be available to play.
“Next week,” he said. “We are discussing with him, what is expected of him over there and what is expected here.
“But first of all, he needs an important game on Saturday and he will be back with us next week.”
Liverpool face Roberto de Zerbi’s Marseille in the Champions League on Wednesday before traveling to Bournemouth next weekend.
The Premier League champions’ title defense collapsed with six defeats in seven league games that began at the end of September.
But Slott has steadied the ship and the club are now unbeaten in 11 games in all competitions.