Liverpool manager Arne Slot has voiced unwavering support for Mohamed Salah, declaring no barriers to the Egyptian’s continued tenure at Anfield despite a public rift that has gripped the club. With a pivotal sit-down planned for Friday morning, the Dutch tactician’s stance arrives as the Reds prepare to face Brighton, potentially marking a turning point in a saga that has divided fans and amplified scrutiny on the defending Premier League champions.
In a pre-match briefing ahead of Saturday’s Anfield clash, Slot addressed the brewing uncertainty head-on, stating, “I have no reason 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].” This comes mere days after Salah’s explosive post-match interview following a chaotic 3-3 draw at Leeds United on December 6, where he accused the club of “throwing me under the bus” and revealed a fractured relationship with Slot. Omitted entirely from Tuesday’s Champions League squad for the 1-0 victory over Inter Milan secured by a late Dominik Szoboszlai penalty Salah’s absence underscored the depth of the discord, yet Liverpool remain unbeaten in four outings without him, including a gritty 1-1 home stalemate against Sunderland on December 3.
The backdrop to this impasse traces to Slot’s tactical overhaul since succeeding Jürgen Klopp in the summer of 2024. Liverpool clinched the Premier League title in Slot’s debut season with a record 92 points, propelled by Salah’s haul of 28 goals and 18 assists his fourth Golden Boot and third Playmaker of the Season award. Yet the 2025-26 campaign has unravelled into a title defence marred by inconsistency: nine losses in 12 early matches across all competitions, including a humiliating 4-1 home Champions League defeat to PSV Eindhoven on November 26. Slot, seeking greater defensive solidity, has benched Salah for three straight league games prior to Leeds his first such streak since joining in 2017 opting for midfield reinforcements amid vulnerabilities exposed against Nottingham Forest (0-3 loss) and others.
Salah, now 33 and in the second year of a two-year extension signed in April 2025 that ties him to 2027, has felt the sting acutely.
“I thought I’m going to renew here and end my career here, but this is not according to the plan,” he lamented post-Leeds, hinting that Saturday’s Brighton fixture his last before departing for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco on December 15 could be a farewell. His frustration stems from perceived broken promises: assurances of a starring role post-extension, now overshadowed by Slot’s emphasis on collective balance over individual brilliance. This season, Salah’s output has dipped to five goals in 19 appearances, a stark contrast to his career totals of 250 goals and 100 assists in 420 outings for Liverpool, where he ranks third on the club’s all-time scoring list with 229 Premier League strikes.
The implications ripple far beyond Anfield. For Liverpool, perched precariously in the top-four chase with 28 points from 16 games trailing leaders Arsenal by eight Salah’s potential winter exit would command a valuation believed to be in the region of £150 million, deterring Saudi suitors like Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad who pursued him last year. His departure could accelerate a youth infusion, with Slot eyeing talents like Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz as a long-term successor, though reports suggest Salah views such pursuits as a slight. Economically, Salah’s brand—bolstered by endorsements and his role in Liverpool’s £500 million annual revenue—anchors global appeal, particularly in Africa and the Middle East, where his 61 international goals for Egypt have elevated the Pharaohs’ profile.
Fan sentiment, echoed across social media, mirrors the divide. On X, posts from supporters highlight Slot’s plea for unity “Arne Slot says he has ‘no reason’ to want Mo Salah to leave” while others speculate on replacements like Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise. Pundits draw parallels to Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2022 Manchester United fallout, framing Salah’s outburst as a “powerplay” to reclaim influence amid Slot’s authority test. Yet Slot remains defiant: “I am not weak,” he asserted in Milan, crediting the benching for recent resilience, including the Inter win that bolstered Liverpool’s knockout hopes.
Slot’s man-management now faces its sternest trial. Having navigated Klopp’s high-octane era to a title, he must reconcile Salah’s irreplaceable flair evident in records like eight goal-and-assist games in a single season with tactical pragmatism.
.
