Arne Slot makes huge Mohamed Salah Liverpool squad decision after talks

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Liverpool manager Arne Slot held talks with Mohamed Salah and has decided to include him in the squad to face Brighton, a move framed as putting the club’s interests first amid ongoing uncertainty over the forward’s future.

Slot said he would speak with Salah before finalising the matchday squad, and that the outcome of that conversation determined whether Salah would be involved against Brighton[1].

The meeting followed a week of extensive communication between Salah, his representatives and Liverpool’s hierarchy after Salah’s recent comments and his omission from the squad for the Champions League trip to Inter Milan, which had intensified speculation about a possible January departure to Saudi Arabia[1][2].

Slot stressed that selection decisions rest with him even though he regularly consults sporting director Richard Hughes and other club figures, and he reiterated he has “no reasons” for wanting Salah to leave Liverpool[1][2].

Journalists and pundits have suggested Slot’s recall of Salah is motivated by the club’s best interests rather than personal vindication—Slot wants to prioritise team performance and stability ahead of Salah’s impending departure for the Africa Cup of Nations, with the short break offering time for a broader resolution[2][3].

Commentary has compared the situation to past high-profile dressing-room disputes, noting sympathy for both the player and the club as negotiations continue; though Saturday’s inclusion is an important step, analysts caution it may not be a final resolution to Salah’s longer-term future at Anfield[3][4].