Mohamed Salah is back in the Liverpool squad against Brighton following positive peace talks with Arne Slot
Liverpool players Adrian, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah console each other after the UEFA Champions League final match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid at Stade de France on May 28, 2022 in Paris, France.
Roberto Firmino has given his thoughts on Salah's troubles at Liverpool
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Arne Slot has brought Mohamed Salah back into the fold at Liverpool following crunch talks on Friday. The pair were embroiled in a public row following the Egyptian's damning comments after the 3-3 draw with Leeds United.
After being benched for three games, Salah accused Liverpool of "throwing me under the bus" amid the team's struggle for domestic success. As a result, the 33-year-old was left out of the travelling matchday squad to face Inter Milan and trained alone this week.
On Friday, Slot confirmed talks would be held between himself and the player to come to a resolution. Salah has returned to the matchday squad for the game against Brighton following this conversation, although it remains unclear whether he will start.
Ex-Liverpool star Roberto Firmino responded to the situation after rumours began to arise that Salah would head to Saudi Arabia. Here, the ECHOrounds up what has been said regarding the Egyptian's return to the team and who may want him to depart the Premier League in the future.
Mohamed Salah response
Firmino has responded positively to the news that Salah has been welcomed back to the Liverpool squad. Ahead of the peace talks, Slot confirmed in a press conference he would make a decision on the team to face Brighton after a heavy discussion with Salah.
He said: "I will have a conversation with him this morning and the outcome of that conversation will determine how it looks tomorrow. What I need is a conversation with him and the next time I speak about Mo should be with him and not in here. There's not much more I can say. I speak to him today and the outcome determines how things will look tomorrow."
Once Salah's inclusion in the squad was confirmed, the news was widely shared on social media, including by Fabrizio Romano. Firmino spotted the reporter's post and shared his thoughts, which consisted of three simple emojis - the red love heart, clapping hands and praying emoji.
Roberto Firmino of Liverpool is substituted off on his final appearance for the club and is embraced by teammate Mohamed Salah during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Liverpool FC at Friends Provident St. Mary's Stadium on May 28, 2023 in Southampton, England.
Firmino shared his response to Salah's return to the Liverpool squad
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Firmino's telling response looks like he was hoping for a quick resolution to the troubles between Slot and Salah. The ex-Liverpool star will likely be pleased for his ex-teammate as he previously shared his joy in the Egyptian winning another Premier League title at Anfield.
Speaking after Liverpool's title win, the 34-year-old said: "I'm happy for Liverpool and for what Mohamed Salah has achieved. I think we have a great friendship, and we've built a beautiful history together. If he's watching me now, I'm very proud of him and his friendship."
Roberto Firmino's Saudi nightmare
Amid speculation linking Salah with a Saudi move, Firmino left that league behind following a nightmare start to 2025. The Brazilian joined Al-Ahli in the summer of 2023, departing Liverpool on a free transfer.
He scored 21 goals and assisted 17 times in 65 appearances for the Saudi Pro League team, winning the AFC Champions League in the 2024/25 season. However, his ordeal began at the start of 2025 when the club decided to de-register him from the squad to include £41.6m signing Galeno.
Roberto Firmino of Al-Ahli Saudi looks on as he warms up prior to the AFC Champions League Elite Final between Al Ahli and Kawasaki Frontale at King Abdullah Sports City Hall Stadium on May 03, 2025 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Roberto Firmino had a nightmare few months in Saudi
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Only 10 foreign players are allowed to be registered per club so Firmino was sacrificed to allow a newcomer to take his spot. Following this snub, the Brazilian was linked with a surprise move to Real Madrid to become their newest attacking threat alongside Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr.
Firmino left Saudi Arabia behind but not for Spain. He instead opted for the Qatar Stars League and joined Al Sadd on a two-year deal. Since then, the veteran forward has scored six goals and assisted once in nine appearances and looks to have settled well in his new team.
Ex-Reds transfer advice
One ex-Liverpool star who would likely encourage Salah to head to Saudi Arabia is Sadio Mane. The winger was a huge influence on the pitch for the Reds, scoring 120 goals and assisting 46 times in 269 appearances alongside close friends and teammates Salah and Firmino.
Mane departed Anfield for Bayern Munich in 2022 on a three-year deal worth an initial £27.5million. However, the Senegal international exited Germany after just one season with the Bundesliga side.
Mane was seen as surplus to requirements by then-manager Thomas Tuchel with injuries also dampening his league title win that season. He was convinced to move to Saudi by former teammates Fabinho and Firmino, both of whom were plying their trade for different teams in the Saudi Pro League at the time.
Sadio Mane of Team Al-Nassr FC during the Saudi Pro League match between Al Nassr and Al Riyadh at Al Awwal Park on September 20, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Sadio Mane could convince Salah to move to Saudi
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Speaking to The National in 2023, Mane admitted both tried to convince him to join their respective teams but he opted for Al-Nassr instead. He said: "I think first of all I spoke with Firmino for sure. I think he wanted me to come to the wrong club – I’m joking! He always called two or three times to convince me to come to Al Ahli.
"At the same time I spoke with Fabinho because he was quite close to me and he also wanted me to come to Al Ittihad, but in this time when Al Nassr came, I chose Al Nassr. Of course Henderson is here also, and he sent me a message two days ago to wish me good luck and I’m excited to meet all these great guys and also to meet them face to face for the first time. I’m going to win against you guys!"
Now, Mane could be the one to convince Salah to head to Saudi in the future as he praised the nation for being a Muslim country - which is also the Egyptian's religion. He said: "Since I had the opportunity I spoke to my family, and they were happiest of course because it is a Muslim country. My mum especially encouraged me to go.
"My mum is Muslim like me, she was the first to vote for me to go there and my whole family was excited for me to come here so it was not hard – it is important to my faith. I am pleased to be part of this project and to make it go forward, we have a bright future ahead."
Cristiano Ronaldo also played a big part in Mane's choice of club. He added: "I think you can see how quick everything goes for me, because he is one of the best players in history if not the best of course. And that was easy for me, he makes it easier for me.
"And (Brazil midfielder) Talisca and the other boys, they are all really great players and I am really excited to start the league with all these boys to make the club a real success."