Saturday sees Liverpool play host to Brighton and Hove Albion in their latest Premier League fixture.
Mohamed Salah is set to rejoin the Liverpool squad this weekend against Brighton, but his return should not be viewed as confirmation that tensions behind the scenes have been fully resolved.
The Egypt international is due to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations later this month, with the tournament getting underway on December 22. If Egypt go deep into the competition, Salah could be absent until late January, meaning he will miss the remainder of Liverpool’s fixtures in 2025 regardless of what happens next.
Why Liverpool see Salah’s return as a ‘peace deal’, not a resolution
According to Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol, Salah’s reintegration is best described as a temporary peace agreement designed to buy time rather than settle the situation outright.
Solhekol explained that Arne Slot’s decision to bring Salah back into the fold was motivated by prioritising the club and the team, not by asserting authority. With Salah leaving immediately after Saturday’s match to link up with Egypt, the upcoming international break provides space for key figures to continue discussions away from the weekly pressure of fixtures.
The understanding is that Saturday’s game should be seen as an important step, not the final outcome. Solhekol added that if Slot were acting purely out of self-interest, he might have chosen to leave Salah out altogether. Instead, the Liverpool head coach is believed to be taking a broader view of what best serves the squad and the club as a whole.
The subtle clues Salah could offer against Brighton
While Salah is back in the squad, it appears unlikely that he will start against Brighton. However, his behaviour during the match — or immediately after the final whistle — may offer a clearer indication of his mindset.
When he initially spoke publicly about his situation, Salah revealed that he had invited his family to attend the Brighton fixture, regardless of whether he featured. That detail has taken on added significance in light of the current uncertainty.
If Salah’s family is present and he chooses to acknowledge the crowd post-match, it could be interpreted as a sign that he has already made up his mind about his future. In that scenario, Saturday’s game may come to be viewed less as a reconciliation — and more as a farewell before his AFCON departure.
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