Liverpool seem to have reached a truce with sulking Mohamed Salah after the star forward was recalled back to the squad ahead of Saturday’s match with Brighton.
Mohamed Salah is set to return to the Liverpool squad for their Premier League fixture against Brighton on Saturday following crucial discussions with head coach Arne Slot.
The Egyptian forward, who has not started in the last four matches, met with Slot on Friday, after which the manager made the decision to recall him. This match marks Salah's final opportunity to play for the Reds before he departs for the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt.
Salah's recent absence from the starting lineup was reportedly for footballing reasons. The situation escalated last weekend when he was an unused substitute against Leeds. Following that match, Salah expressed frustration, claiming he had been "thrown under the bus" and that his relationship with Slot was "non-existent."
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Slot Lived Up to His Promise
Subsequently, the club left him out of the squad that secured a 1-0 victory over Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday. On the same day, Salah posted a picture of himself training alone at the club's facility.
Despite persistent interest from Saudi Arabian clubs, Liverpool have not received any formal offers for the star forward.
When questioned on Friday about whether Salah had played his last game for the club, Slot remained tight-lipped about the details of their relationship.
"I will have a conversation with Mo this morning," Slot told reporters. "The outcome of that conversation determines how it will look tomorrow. The next time I speak about Mo should be with him and not in here."
The head coach emphasised the need for direct communication, adding, "We've spoken a lot in the last week... there have been a lot of conversations between his representatives and ours, between him and me. And today I will speak with him again."
Analysis: A Fragile Truce?
According to Sky Sports News' Kaveh Solhekol, the decision to bring Salah back into the fold appears to be a temporary truce rather than a long-term resolution.
"I think we've got a peace deal, but I'm not sure how long this peace deal is going to last," Solhekol commented. "My understanding is that Arne Slot has made this decision because he's putting the team and the club first."
Solhekol suggested that Salah's upcoming departure for the Africa Cup of Nations will provide a crucial window for all parties to find a more permanent solution.
"I think if he was just thinking about himself and his authority, he would think that Salah doesn't deserve to be back in the squad for what he did," he added. "I think Slot's looking at the bigger picture."
The situation remains fluid, with the January transfer window looming and Saudi clubs reportedly keen on signing Salah.