Slot: Salah Back Before Season Ends
Uncertainty over Mohamed Salah’s final appearance at Anfield has eased after Arne Slot confirmed the forward is expected to return before the end of the season, following what the club described as a minor injury.
Salah, 33, was forced off during Liverpool’s 3–1 home victory against Crystal Palace, raising concerns he might have played his last match for the club ahead of his planned departure at the end of the campaign. The Egypt international received a standing ovation as he left the pitch, acknowledging supporters in an emotional moment.
Liverpool later clarified that the injury was not serious, with Slot confirming on Friday that the forward would likely feature again before the season concludes, although he will miss Sunday’s trip to face Manchester United.
“We expect him to be back in the final part of the season, but not for Sunday,” Slot said during his pre-match press briefing. “In all ways, it’s a big relief that his injury is minor, so that he’s able to play for us, that he’s able to play at the World Cup. And if there’s ever a player who deserves to get a big send-off, it’s definitely Mo.”
Since joining Liverpool FC in 2017, Salah has scored 257 goals in 440 appearances, placing him among the club’s all-time leading scorers, behind only Ian Rush and Roger Hunt.
His season has not been without tension. In December, Salah publicly stated he had “no relationship” with Slot after being left out for three consecutive matches. The situation, however, appeared to stabilise quickly, with the forward returning to regular involvement.
Liverpool head into the final stretch of the campaign having won three consecutive matches, a run that has strengthened their position in the race for qualification for next season’s UEFA Champions League. With four games remaining, the club sits fourth in the Premier League standings, three points behind third-placed Manchester United and eight points clear of sixth-placed Brighton.
The top five teams will secure automatic qualification for Europe’s elite competition, making Liverpool’s current position strategically important after a season marked by inconsistency. Their title defence faltered from late September, effectively ending hopes of retaining the league crown.
Slot acknowledged the importance of securing a Champions League place, describing it as essential for the club’s ambitions. “We know how important it is to qualify for the Champions League, for any club, but definitely for our club,” he said, adding that achieving that target would represent “the right step” following a turbulent campaign.
The manager also addressed scrutiny surrounding his tenure, particularly after last season’s title-winning campaign. “That’s for you guys to judge,” he said. “I’m judging my football players, if they play well, if they work hard enough, if they execute tactics well enough.”
Attention is also turning to the fitness of goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who has been sidelined since March. Slot confirmed the Brazilian is close to returning to training but stressed that the club would proceed cautiously to avoid setbacks.
With Salah expected back before the campaign ends, attention now shifts to how Liverpool will mark the departure of one of its most influential modern-era players.