LIVERPOOL: Arne Slot says he will welcome Mohamed Salah back to Liverpool even if they have 15 attackers as the Egyptian striker nears an Africa Cup of Nations return.
Salah is expected to play in the third-place play-off match between Egypt and Nigeria in Morocco on Saturday.
His impending return has been a major talking point after he took aim at the club in an explosive interview in early December.
Salah accused Liverpool of throwing him “under the bus” after he was benched for three consecutive games and said he had no relationship with manager Slot.
But he appeared as a substitute in a 2–0 Premier League win over Brighton & Hove Albion on December 13, providing an assist, and Slot later said the club had moved on from the furore.
Slot, whose fourth-placed side host struggling Burnley on Saturday, was asked in his pre-match press conference about Salah’s return.
“First of all, he has to play another big match for Egypt on Saturday,” said the Dutchman.
“And then he comes back to us, and I’m happy he’s back. Mo has been so important for this club, for me, so I’m happy he’s back.
“Because even if I had had 15 strikers, I would still have been happy if he had come back, but that is not our current situation. So I am happy to have him back after an important match which he still has to play.”
Salah scored 29 Premier League goals to win the Premier League Golden Boot last season as Liverpool won a 20th English league title, but has managed just four league goals in the current campaign.
Slot was asked when he expected Salah to be available to play.
“Next week,” he said. “We are in talks with him, what is expected of him there and what we expect here.
“But first of all, he has an important match to play on Saturday, and next week he will be back with us.”
Liverpool face Roberto de Zerbi’s Olympique Marseille in the Champions League on Wednesday before traveling to Bournemouth next weekend.
The Premier League champions’ title defense collapsed with a run of six defeats in seven league matches starting in late September.
But Slot steadied the ship and the club are now unbeaten in 11 games in all competitions.
Published in Dawn, January 17, 2026
