Liverpool manager Arne Slot is set to meet Mohamed Salah on Friday to discuss the forward’s involvement in Saturday’s Premier League clash with Brighton & Hove Albion, amid growing speculation about the Egyptian star’s future.
Salah’s future has been under scrutiny after he publicly criticized Liverpool following last weekend’s 3-3 draw with Leeds United. The club currently sit 10th in the league with 23 points from 15 games, a sharp decline from last season’s title-winning campaign.
Slot, who left Salah out of the squad for Tuesday’s 1-0 Champions League victory over Inter Milan, said:
“I will have a conversation with Mo this morning, the outcome of that conversation determines how things will look tomorrow.”
On whether he wants Salah to remain at the club, Slot added:
“I have no reasons to not want him to stay.”
Slot declined to make promises about Salah’s long-term future, noting ongoing discussions:
“After the Sunderland game there were a lot of conversations between his representatives and ours, between him and me. The next time I speak about Mo should be with him and not in here.”
The Liverpool manager also confirmed that squad selection decisions remain under his control:
“The decision to play a player or have them in the squad is entirely up to me.”
Liverpool also face uncertainty over Alexander Isak, who picked up a knock against Inter Milan, with his status for Saturday to be assessed. Slot praised the developing partnership between Isak and Hugo Ekitike, saying:
“The more they play together, the more they will adapt and cooperate. We saw promising things from them—it’s only the second time they’ve played together.”
Federico Chiesa is expected to be available, while Wataru Endo and Cody Gakpo remain sidelined for several weeks. Salah, nicknamed “The Egyptian King,”, will depart for the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday, leaving Liverpool to maintain momentum amid ongoing transfer rumors linking him to Saudi clubs.