Il Nuovo Postiglione - Slot 'happy' to welcome Salah back at Liverpool after AFCON

NYSE - LSE

RBGPF	0.12%	82.5	$
CMSD	-0.21%	23.68	$
GSK	-0.24%	59.12	$
CMSC	0%	23.88	$
BCC	7.06%	86.66	$
RIO	0.45%	98.11	$
BTI	-0.31%	61.91	$
NGG	1.02%	92.38	$
BCE	-0.15%	26.03	$
RELX	2.31%	31.22	$
BP	-0.29%	38.3	$
JRI	0.38%	13.17	$
RYCEF	1.67%	18	$
AZN	0.81%	206.61	$
VOD	0.89%	15.7	$

Slot 'happy' to welcome Salah back at Liverpool after AFCON

SPORTS 16.01.2026

Slot 'happy' to welcome Salah back at Liverpool after AFCON / Photo: Paul ELLIS - AFP/File

Arne Slot said he would welcome Mohamed Salah back at Liverpool even if he had 15 attackers as the Egypt forward nears a return from the Africa Cup of Nations.

Text size:

Salah is set to play in Egypt's third-place play-off match against Nigeria in Morocco on Saturday.

His impending return has been a major talking point after he took aim at the club in an explosive interview in early December.

Salah accused Liverpool of throwing him "under the bus" after he was benched for three games in a row and said he had no relationship with manager Slot.

But he appeared as a substitute in a 2-0 Premier League win against Brighton on December 13, providing a assist, and Slot subsequently said the club had moved on from the furore.

Slot, whose fourth-placed team host struggling Burnley on Saturday, was asked at his pre-match press conference about Salah's return.

"First of all, he needs to play another big game for Egypt on Saturday," said the Dutchman.

"And then he comes back to us, and I'm happy that he comes back. Mo has been so important for this club, for me, so I'm happy that he's back.

"Because even if I had 15 attackers I still would have been happy if he would have come back, but that's not our current situation. So I'm happy to have him back after an important game that he still has to play."

Salah scored 29 Premier League goals to win the Premier League Golden Boot last season as Liverpool romped to a 20th English league title, but has managed just four league goals during the current campaign.

Slot was asked when he expected Salah to be available to play.

"Next week," he said. "We're in talks with him, what is expected of him over there and what we expect over here.

"But first of all, he needs to have an important game on Saturday, and next week he will be back with us."

Liverpool take on Roberto de Zerbi's Marseille in the Champions League on Wednesday before travelling to Bournemouth next weekend.

The Premier League champions' title defence collapsed with a run of six defeats in seven league matches starting in late September.

But Slot has steadied the ship and the club are now unbeaten in 11 games in all competitions.

G.Palmiero--INP

Featured

Giant killers Bodo/Glimt continue remarkable rise with Inter triumph

Bodo/Glimt are on the march in the Champions League after dumping out European giants Inter Milan, the latest chapter in a remarkable rise for the tiny club from north of the Arctic Circle.

Bodo/Glimt knock Inter out of Champions League as Newcastle, Atletico reach last 16

Norway's Bodo/Glimt pulled off one of the most remarkable results in modern Champions League history on Tuesday, beating last season's runners-up Inter Milan 2-1 at San Siro to reach the last 16 with a 5-2 aggregate triumph, while Newcastle United, Atletico Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen also went through.

Australian Open chief Tiley steps down to take top US job

Australian Open chief Craig Tiley is stepping down after a "transformative" tenure to run the US Tennis Association (USTA), the Australian governing body said Wednesday.

FIFA boss 'very reassured' about World Cup in Mexico despite violence

FIFA boss Gianni Infantino told AFP on Tuesday he was "very reassured" about Mexico's hosting of games in the football World Cup, in his first comments on the violence triggered by the killing of a drug cartel leader.