Slot Plays It Cool on Salah Reunion as Liverpool Star Prepares AFCON Exit

Mohamed Salah's Liverpool homecoming is imminent after Egypt's AFCON campaign ended in heartbreak, with the Reds boss determined to keep the details of their conversations strictly confidential.

The winger departed for Africa with the relationship between himself and manager Arne Slot seemingly fractured, having publicly suggested the club had "thrown me under the bus" following a draw with Leeds. That claim came after limited minutes against Brighton before his December departure.

Senegal's semi-final victory in Tangier, courtesy of a Sadio Mane goal, means Salah will head back to Merseyside after Egypt's third-place play-off against Nigeria on Saturday. Speaking ahead of that fixture, Slot confirmed the 32-year-old's imminent return whilst remaining deliberately evasive about the substance of their recent dialogue.

"Next week he comes back to us," the Liverpool manager told reporters on Friday. "I'm happy to see Mo return—he's been hugely significant for this club. Regardless of our attacking options, his presence matters. We're having conversations about expectations on both sides, but what passes between us stays between us. Those details aren't mine to publicise."

Slot added that discussions about Salah's integration, including the upcoming Marseille fixture, are ongoing but would not be drawn on specifics of their private communications.

The prospect of Salah's comeback has generated considerable debate about his readiness to reclaim a central role. Pundit Paul Merson struck a cautious note after observing the winger's AFCON performances, which yielded four goals and an assist but, in Merson's assessment, lacked the explosive quality Liverpool fans have come to expect.

"Whether Salah walks straight back into the starting eleven is the question," Merson suggested. "From what I've seen at AFCON, he hasn't been particularly sharp. Those moments where he manufactures goals from nothing feel like they're behind him now. He didn't trouble opposing full-backs the way he once did. Whether Liverpool share that view remains to be seen, but it's worth monitoring how the manager deploys him."