Mohamed Salah is back with the Reds squad after returning from the Africa Cup of Nations
Mohamed Salah is back with the Liverpool squad ahead of the trip to Marseille
Mohamed Salah is back with the Liverpool squad ahead of the trip to Marseille(Image: )
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Mohamed Salah took part in open training ahead of Liverpool's penultimate Champions League league phase match away at Marseille following his return from the Africa Cup of Nations. The 33-year-old helped Egypt finish fourth in the continental tournament after they were knocked out by eventual winners Senegal in the semi-final stage.
The forward was assessed at the AXA Training Centre on Tuesday morning, before joining his team-mates in their final training session before flying out to France. Having missed the Reds' last seven matches due to his international exploits, he is now poised to return for Arne Slot's side.
Meanwhile, Ibrahima Konate was absent from open training with the defender already back in France. However, this is due to family reasons with it currently undecided whether he will link up with his team-mates in Marseille.
If not, Joe Gomez is on standby to partner Virgil van Dijk at centre-back. He is Liverpool's only other available senior option, with Giovanni Leoni sidelined for the season after suffering an ACL injury back in September, while former transfer target Marc Guehi has now joined Man City.
Salah's future had been cast into doubt prior to his departure to AFCON, having spoken out against Slot and the club after finding himself benched for three successive matches.
He was left out of the travelling squad for Liverpool's last Champions League match away at Inter Milan as a result, but was recalled following amicable talks with Slot for the Reds' Premier League clash with Brighton & Hove Albion and claimed an assist off the bench in his final outing before departing for AFCON duty.
Liverpool have actually been unbeaten in the 12 matches since Slot first dropped Salah from his starting XI, but the Reds have drawn six of those games - including their last four Premier League matches. There were boos at Anfield following the final whistle on Saturday after the 1-1 draw with Burnley.
With Liverpool struggling to break down sides and in front of goal, it remains to be seen if Salah, who is the third-highest scorer in the club's history and scored four goals while away at AFCON, earns a recall to the starting XI in France.
Long-term absentees Alexander Isak and Conor Bradley remain absent, along with Leoni, but the rest of the Reds squad, aside from Konate, took part in open training.
That includes Calvin Ramsay, though the Scotland international remains ineligible for European action having not been named in Liverpool's Champions League squad for the first half of the season.