Arne Slot Can’t Wait For Mohamed Salah’s Return To Liverpool

Mohamed Salah is expected to report back to Liverpool next week, with head coach Arne Slot insisting he is delighted to have the forward back at his disposal, regardless of how many attacking options he has.

Salah has spent the past month on international duty with Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and will return to Merseyside after Saturday’s third-place play-off against Nigeria.

His return follows a stormy period that began shortly before the tournament, when the 33-year-old gave a blunt interview suggesting “someone doesn’t want me in the club” and claiming he no longer had any relationship with Slot.

The situation was further fuelled when Salah was omitted from Liverpool’s squad for their 1 0 win away to Inter Milan, although he later came off the bench to provide an assist against Brighton four days later.

At the time, Slot admitted he had “no clue” whether Salah had already played his final game for the club. Now, however, the Dutchman is in no doubt about welcoming back a player who has scored 250 goals in 421 appearances for Liverpool.

“First of all, he needs to play another big game for Egypt on Saturday and then he comes back to us,” Slot said.

“I am happy that he comes back. Mo has been so important for this club, for me, so I am happy that he is back. “Even if I had 15 attackers, I still would have been happy if he came back, but that is not our current situation.”

Liverpool have not missed a step during Salah’s absence, remaining unbeaten in six matches and winning three of them. They are back in Premier League action on Saturday when they host Burnley at Anfield, with kick-off scheduled for 15:00 GMT.

Slot’s attacking options have been stretched by the long-term injury to record signing Alexander Isak, who is expected to be sidelined for several months after surgery on a fractured left leg, making Salah’s return all the more timely.

The Reds also face a Champions League trip to Marseille next Wednesday, although Slot says a decision is still to be made on whether Salah will feature in that match or be held back for the league visit to Bournemouth on 24 January.

“We are talking together about [the Marseille game] now,” Slot said. “We are in talks with him about what is expected of him over there, what is expected over here. But first of all, he needs to have an important game on Saturday, and next week he will be back.”

Asked about the discussions that followed last month’s very public fallout, Slot was unwilling to go into detail.

“What happens between Mo and me, on the phone or over here, stays between the two of us,” he added. “And I don’t think I must share all the private conversations I have.”