Arne Slot is expressing optimism regarding the recent tensions surrounding Mo Salah, indicating that both parties have likely moved past their disagreements. The Liverpool head coach is looking forward to welcoming Salah back into the team next week, following his participation in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
When can fans expect to see Mohamed Salah return to action for Liverpool? His comeback is anticipated after Egypt's match against Nigeria in the AFCON third-place playoff scheduled for Saturday. This indicates that he might be available for the Champions League clash with Marseille on Tuesday.
Return Timeline: Mohamed Salah is set to rejoin Liverpool’s lineup next week after competing in five matches during the AFCON, where he has impressively contributed four goals and one assist over 480 minutes of play. Prior to his return, the club’s medical staff will evaluate his fitness to ensure he is ready to perform at his best.
The timing of his return aligns perfectly with Liverpool's upcoming fixtures, particularly the important matchup against Marseille in the Champions League. However, during his pre-match press conference before the game against Burnley, Slot mentioned that a final decision regarding Salah’s inclusion for the Marseille game had yet to be made. He emphasized the importance of Salah's performance in the final AFCON match before rejoining the squad: "We’re in discussions about what is expected from him in both settings. He has a crucial game on Saturday, and then he’ll come back to us. We are currently working through this together."
Given the high stakes of Salah's contributions thus far, it is likely he will be incorporated back into the team as soon as feasible. Nonetheless, Liverpool’s medical team will take into account the extensive minutes he has logged during the AFCON tournament, which totals 480 minutes out of a possible 570. Slot must be relieved that Egypt's head coach, Hossam Hassan, opted to rest Salah during the Group B finale against Angola.
Additionally, there are underlying issues to address, considering Salah left Liverpool under less than ideal circumstances, having voiced criticism towards Slot and the club regarding his treatment prior to the AFCON tournament.
Mohamed Salah's Performance at AFCON 2025/26
| Fixture | Minutes | Goals / Assists |
|-----------------------|---------|-----------------|
| vs. Zimbabwe (Group) | 90′ | 1 / 0 |
| vs. South Africa (Group)| 90′ | 1 / 0 |
| vs. Angola (Group) | 0′ | 0 / 0 |
| vs. Benin (Round of 16)| 120′ | 1 / 0 |
| vs. Ivory Coast (Quarter-Finals)| 90′ | 1 / 1 |
| vs. Senegal (Semi-Finals)| 90′ | 0 / 0 |
| TOTALS | 480′| 4 / 1 |
Data sourced from Transfermarkt as of January 16, 2026. The third-place match between Egypt and Nigeria will take place on January 17.
There appears to be a sense of resolution regarding the situation, at least for the remainder of the season, with Slot expressing his pleasure at Salah’s impending return: "He has an important game for Egypt this Saturday, and I’m genuinely happy to have him back with us afterward. Just like Andy [Robertson], Mo has played a vital role for this club and for me personally, so I welcome his return. Even if our squad were overflowing with attackers, I would still be pleased to see him back because of his significance to the team."
When questioned about his communication with Salah following Egypt’s semi-final loss to Senegal, Slot maintained the privacy of their discussions: "What transpires between Mo and myself, whether via phone or in person, remains confidential. I don’t believe it’s necessary to disclose every private conversation we have with any players, either here or over the phone."
