Mohamed Salah’s return to Liverpool after AFCON will be very telling with regards to his future at the club, and a devastating blow to one of his teammates is sure to have an impact.
After triumphing over the reigning AFCON champions Ivory Coast, Salah’s Egypt are into the semi-final where they will face Sadio Mane’s Senegal.
Liverpool have been better without Salah and there are those who question if his return is a good thing.
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Now that a player has been ruled out for the season, that question might be answered for Arne Slot.
Gabriel Martinelli appeals while Liverpool's Conor Bradley sits injured during the Premier League match between the two teams at the Emirates Stadium.
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Mo Salah will be needed at Liverpool with Conor Bradley out for the season
We have seen Slot test out many combinations in Salah’s absence, with his recent favourite being to rely on Jeremie Frimpong to provide width in the attack.
He may have to change that approach now after Conor Bradley has been ruled out for the season.
A terrible blow for Liverpool and for Bradley’s Northern Ireland, who must now face Italy in the World Cup playoffs without their most established star.
For those at Anfield, it raises a question around who Liverpool’s best right-back options are.
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Conor Bradley won't play again this term…
Calvin Ramsay warms up ahead of Liverpool's Carabao Cup match against Crystal Palace at Anfield (Credit: Getty Images/Dan Istitene).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Dan Istitene
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The obvious first choice is Frimpong, and that could give Salah a direct route back into the starting XI now that his main competition will often be needed further back.
It remains to be seen what Slot’s stance on the Egyptian is after last month’s drama, but that matters less now that Bradley is out. With plenty of competitions to fight for, Salah surely doesn’t get the same bench treatment as he did before the tournament began.
If he can continue his AFCON form upon returning, there may be life in his Liverpool career yet.
Gut feeling, has Mohamed Salah played his last game for Liverpool? If yes, how do you feel about it?
421 appearances
250 goals
114 assists
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Liverpool’s defensive woes continue
The Reds have had awful luck with their back line this season.
They missed out on Marc Guehi in the summer. New signing Giovanni Leoni got injured straight away, and will be joined on the sidelines by Bradley.
Liverpool weren’t planning major investment in January, but surely this latest blow will have them considering their options.
Frimpong should be the starting right-back most of the time, with Joe Gomez also getting games, but is that enough for a side looking to compete on four fronts? I’m not so sure.
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