Slot shrugs off Salah drama as Liverpool star returns in Brighton win

Arne Slot insisted it was an “easy decision” to bring Mohamed Salah straight back into the Liverpool squad as the Reds beat Brighton 2-0 at Anfield, drawing a line under a turbulent week around their biggest name.

Salah, 33, made his first appearance since claiming he had been “thrown under the bus” by the club after last weekend’s 3-3 draw with Leeds. Despite the noise, Slot said there was no problem to fix and no awkward conversations needed.

“What’s been said between the two of us stays between the two of us,” Slot told Sky Sports after the final whistle. “He was back in the squad and we needed him. There was no issue to resolve.”

The Egypt international came on in the 26th minute after Joe Gomez was forced off injured and was greeted with warm applause from the Anfield crowd. It didn’t take long for him to make his mark, swinging in the corner that led to Hugo Ekitike’s second goal and sparking a fresh round of his song from the Kop.

Salah looked sharp, firing over the bar and then overcooking a pass for Andy Robertson when another chance opened up. He was lively throughout and took a full lap of the pitch at the end, acknowledging the supporters who clearly hadn’t turned on him.

“He was a threat,” Slot added. “The first ball he touched he almost gave an assist to Mac Allister. He was constantly involved. It’s pleasing but also not a surprise because he’s done that many times.”

Questions still hang over Salah’s future with the Africa Cup of Nations looming. He is due to join up with Egypt on Monday, leaving Liverpool light again, and Saudi Pro League clubs continue to circle with January around the corner.

“He goes to Egypt now to Afcon, that means for us another player down and we already didn’t have a lot,” Slot said. “But we knew before the season he would go. Maybe one or two players come back from injury.”

Salah has 18 months left on his contract and Liverpool famously rejected a £150m bid from Al-Ittihad in 2023. He is the club’s third highest scorer of all time with 250 goals in 421 games, yet has now gone five matches without a start.

For now, Liverpool move on. The win keeps Slot’s side ticking nicely in the league and the focus turns to coping without Salah while he’s away in Africa. What happens after that, nobody is saying.