Mohamed Salah's future looks a bit more certain than it did a few weeks ago, and he is back in the Liverpool squad for the Champions League game against Marseille
11:42, 21 Jan 2026
Mohamed Salah returned to Liverpool training this week
Mohamed Salah returned to Liverpool training this week(Image: )
Discussions between Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes and Mohamed Salah's agent Ramy Abbas reportedly continued during the Africa Cup of Nations.
Salah's future at Liverpool looked uncertain shortly before he departed Liverpool for Afcon in December, after a series of incendiary remarks he gave to reporters in the mixed zone at Elland Road following a 3-3 draw, in which he was an unused substitute.
The Egyptian accused the club of throwing him under the bus, while also saying he no longer had a relationship with Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.
Salah was dropped for Liverpool's next game, away to Inter Milan in the Champions League, but positive talks between Slot and Salah upon the squad's return from Italy saw Salah restored to the squad for a 2-0 Premier League win over Brighton.
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Prior to that game against Brighton, it felt as though Salah might have played his last game for the club, and that he could have ended up leaving during the January transfer window upon his return from Afcon.
But a good performance against Brighton followed by a warm exchange with Liverpool's supporters after the game – plus a lack of noise surrounding his future in the weeks since – suggested that the storm had passed.
The Athletic reports that dialogue between Hughes and Abbas remained open throughout Afcon, and that Salah is expected to stay at Anfield until at least the end of the season.
Slot was asked about his relationship with Salah in a press conference on Tuesday ahead of today's Champions League game against Marseille.
Arne Slot addressed his relationship with Salah on Tuesday
Arne Slot addressed his relationship with Salah on Tuesday(Image: 2026 Anadolu)
"[The relationship is] as normal as it has always been," Slot responded. "There was only one exception and that was the game against Inter where I didn't take him.
"But for all the games he was there, in the last game he was at Liverpool before he went to the Afcon, he came in after 15 or 20 minutes. I think he had a very good performance in that game. We were 1-0 up at the time and we beat Brighton with 2-0.
"I think he left in a situation that was good for him and for us because we beat Brighton and he played again and then he went to the Afcon.
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"Again, he did what he usually does, scoring goals. Unfortunately, he couldn't win the tournament but there were other very good teams in that tournament as well, but he got to the semi-final and now he's back with us. Of course, I spoke to him today and I'm happy to have him back."