Slot, Salah Hold Crucial Talk as Liverpool Future Unclear

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has said he has no reason to want Mohamed Salah to leave the club. Slot will meet Salah face-to-face to decide if he will play in Saturday’s Premier League match against Brighton. The discussion comes after Salah’s strong comments following Liverpool’s 3-3 draw with Leeds United, which led to growing doubts about his future at the Merseyside club. Liverpool are currently 10th in the league with 23 points from 15 games, a big difference from their title-winning season last year.

Salah did not travel to Italy for Liverpool’s 1-0 Champions League win against Inter Milan, which made the rumours even stronger. Slot explained that this decision was taken by the club, but team selection is fully his responsibility. He said he regularly speaks with sporting director Richard Hughes, but the final call on the squad remains his alone.

Slot avoided giving any clear guarantee about Salah’s future. He told reporters that the next time he discusses Salah, it should be directly with the player. He added that many conversations have already taken place between Salah, his representatives and the club after the match against Sunderland. The uncertainty around the Premier League star continues to grow.

There is also doubt about Alexander Isak’s availability for the Brighton match. Slot revealed that Isak picked up a knock during the first half of the Inter Milan game and will be checked before a final decision is made. He praised the growing partnership between Isak and Hugo Ekitike, saying the pair will only improve as they play more together.

Slot confirmed that Federico Chiesa has recovered from illness and will be available, while Wataru Endo and Cody Gakpo will be out for a few weeks. Salah, known as the Egyptian King, has had a difficult season after a brilliant 2024-25 campaign. He is set to leave for the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday, which means Liverpool must continue their unbeaten run without him while managing the off-field drama.

Reports suggest that Saudi clubs are still interested in the star forward, and Salah’s recent hints have raised questions about whether he will return to Anfield after the tournament. His future remains uncertain as Liverpool try to keep their season steady.