Liverpool manager Arne Slot has reiterated his full support for Mohamed Salah, insisting there are “no reasons” he would want the Egyptian to leave Anfield despite a public rift that has unsettled the Premier League champions. A pivotal meeting between the pair is scheduled for Friday morning, ahead of Saturday’s home fixture against Brighton, in what could prove decisive in resolving the crisis that has split fan opinion and intensified scrutiny on the club.
Speaking during his pre-match press conference, Slot directly addressed the uncertainty, saying: “I have no reason to not want him to stay. I will have a conversation with Mo. The outcome of that conversation determines how things will look on Saturday.”
His remarks follow Salah’s explosive post-match interview after Liverpool’s chaotic 3-3 draw at Leeds United on December 6, during which he accused the club of “throwing me under the bus” and revealed a fractured relationship with the manager. The fallout deepened when Salah was omitted from the squad that defeated Inter Milan 1-0 on Tuesday in the Champions League, secured by a late Dominik Szoboszlai penalty. The Egyptian’s exclusion underlined the depth of discord, although Liverpool have remained unbeaten in four matches without him, including a 1-1 draw with Sunderland on December 3.
The tensions trace back to Slot’s tactical overhaul since replacing Jürgen Klopp in the summer of 2024. Liverpool claimed the Premier League title in his debut campaign with a record 92 points, driven by Salah’s 28 goals and 18 assists — earning him a fourth Golden Boot and third Playmaker of the Season award.
But the 2025/26 season has unravelled into an erratic title defence, marked by nine defeats in 12 early matches across all competitions, including a bruising 4-1 home loss to PSV Eindhoven on November 26. Seeking greater defensive structure, Slot benched Salah for three consecutive league fixtures before the Leeds game — his first such run since joining the club in 2017 — opting for midfield reinforcements after damaging defeats such as the 0-3 loss to Nottingham Forest.
Salah, now 33 and in the second year of a two-year contract extension signed in April 2025 that runs until 2027, has been visibly affected. Speaking after the Leeds draw, he lamented: “I thought I’m going to renew here and end my career here, but this is not according to the plan.” Saturday’s match against Brighton, which comes before he departs for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco on December 15, could be his final appearance if tensions persist.
His frustration stems partly from what he perceives as broken assurances of a guaranteed starring role following his extension. His output this season — five goals in 19 appearances — contrasts sharply with his career haul of 250 goals and 100 assists in 420 matches for Liverpool. He sits third on the club’s all-time scoring chart, with 229 Premier League goals.
A potential January exit would have wide-ranging implications. With Liverpool sitting on 28 points from 16 matches — eight behind leaders Arsenal — a mid-season sale would require a fee believed to be around £150 million, a valuation that previously deterred Saudi clubs Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad. Slot is reportedly eyeing a younger successor, including Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz, though such links have been interpreted by Salah’s camp as a slight. Off the pitch, Salah’s global commercial value remains central to Liverpool’s estimated £500 million annual revenue, especially across Africa and the Middle East.
Fans remain divided, with social media debates ranging from support for Slot’s authority to speculation about replacements such as Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise. Pundits have compared the standoff to Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2022 fallout at Manchester United, framing Salah’s comments as a power move to reassert influence. Slot, however, has stood firm, saying after the Inter Milan win: “I am not weak,” insisting the benching reinvigorated the team’s resilience.
Slot now faces the sternest man-management test of his tenure. Balancing Salah’s unique influence — best captured in his record of eight goal-and-assist matches in a single season — with the tactical pragmatism needed to stabilize Liverpool’s campaign will determine both the club’s trajectory and Salah’s future at Anfield.