“The Liverpool boss put the finishing touches on the Egyptian forward’s situation and responded to rumors surrounding his future ahead of the Champions League clash against Marseille.”, — write: football.ua
The Liverpool boss put the finishing touches on the Egyptian forward’s situation and responded to rumors surrounding his future ahead of the Champions League clash against Marseille.
Arne Slot Getty Image January 20, 2026, 11:23 p.m
The return of the Egyptian, who recently finished fourth at the African Cup of Nations, comes amid rumors of tension between player and coach.
Slot categorically denied the continuation of the conflict, which escalated after Salah’s revealing interview that someone did not want to see him at the club. The coach emphasized that all misunderstandings remained in the past. For the first time, he can be in the squad again, because he trained today and will be in the squad for tomorrow.
“Let’s look at the lineup tomorrow if you still think there’s a problem,” Slott said. Commenting on his personal relationship with the forward, the Dutchman added: “It’s as normal as it’s always been, with one exception — and that was the match against Inter Milan. I spoke to him today and I’m happy to have him back.”
The coach admitted that the team lacked the realization of moments, and the return of the club’s top scorer in the European Cups is critical. Slot even allowed himself to joke, comparing Salah with the legend of the club:
“If you’re creating more and more chances then it’s really helpful to have Mohamed Salah. There’s only one person alive who has scored more for this club, but I don’t think I can put Ian Rush on the pitch yet! So having him back is really helpful,” said Arne.
The press conference was not without curiosities. The reporters asked Slot about the rumors regarding the appointment of Xabi Alonso, who recently left Real. Slott reacted with sarcasm:
“Yes, he called me and said: ‘What do you think about the team, because I will lead it in six months?’… No, this is one of the strangest questions I’ve ever been asked. I’ve been working here for a little over a year and a half, and I really like my job,” the specialist emphasized.
Liverpool arrived in Marseille with 20 players. Defender Ibrahima Konate will miss the game due to family reasons. The match against Roberto De Zerbi’s side is key to the Merseysiders’ hopes of finishing in the top eight and avoiding too many back-to-back games.