Mohamed Salah is back in the Liverpool squad after missing the Reds' last seven games, and he could have a key role to play against Marseille in the Champions League
15:38, 21 Jan 2026
Mohamed Salah could return to the Liverpool team against Marseille
Mohamed Salah could return to the Liverpool team against Marseille(Image: 2026 Molly Darlington)
Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock has suggested that Mohamed Salah should go straight back into the team against Marseille – because the Reds are in need of a game-changer.
Salah has missed Liverpool's last seven games owing to his involvement in the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt, but he returned to training at the start of this week and traveled to southern France with his teammates on Tuesday ahead of tonight's crucial European game.
“One of the shining lights is that Mo Salah is back,” Warnock said. "A lot of people are seeing that as potentially an issue in Liverpool’s squad because of the trouble he caused before he went to Afcon, but I think at the moment they need a game-changer.
READ MORE: Liverpool predicted starting line-up Vs. Marseille as Mohamed Salah decision madeREAD MORE: Marseille issues injury statement hours before Liverpool game after major blow
“They need some goals in the team and need to be more clinical and maybe Salah can just bring that edge back up front."
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.
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.
Salah's last Liverpool appearance came against Brighton in December
Salah's last Liverpool appearance came against Brighton in December(Image: )
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.
Slot was asked about his relationship with Salah in a press conference on Tuesday ahead of today's Champions League game against Marseille.
"[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.
Article continues below
"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.
"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."