Salah’s Return Boosts Liverpool Ahead of Crucial Champions League Clash

Liverpool FC has officially confirmed that Mohamed Salah will be part of the squad traveling to France for their upcoming match. Salah has not featured for the Reds since December 13, but he is poised to make his return following the team’s 2-0 victory over Brighton. The Egyptian forward trained alongside his teammates prior to the match and is included in Arne Slot’s 20-man Champions League roster. However, Ibrahima Konate will not make the trip as he has returned to France for family matters, as reported by BBC Sport.

The complete Liverpool squad includes: Alisson, Joe Gomez, Wataru Endo, Virgil van Dijk, Milos Kerkez, Florian Wirtz, Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis MacAllister, Mohamed Salah, Federico Chiesa, Curtis Jones, Cody Gakpo, Hugo Ekitike, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Andy Robertson, Freddie Woodman, Jeremie Frimpong, Ryan Gravenberch, Trey Nyoni, and Rio Ngumoha.

Salah’s return comes at a time when his future at the club remains uncertain. The forward was in the spotlight before his departure to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), having lost his place in the starting lineup and giving a candid interview in which he expressed concerns about his relationship with Slot, even suggesting that he felt “thrown under the bus” by his manager.

In response, Slot has maintained that he harbors “no issues” with Salah and has welcomed his return enthusiastically. He remarked, “Similar to Andy [Robertson], Mo has been so important for this club and for me, so I’m happy that he’s back. Even if I had 15 attackers, I would still be glad he is returning, though that is not our current situation. I am delighted to have him back.” While it is still uncertain whether Salah will participate in the match on Wednesday night, his presence is undoubtedly a significant boost for the squad, particularly as they have struggled offensively in the seven games he has missed. Furthermore, Slot’s team has also been impacted by the absence of summer signing Alexander Isak, who is sidelined after undergoing surgery for a leg fracture.

In an update on Salah’s situation, Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai shared that he has remained in contact with Salah during his time away. “Yes, to be honest, almost every day,” he stated. “We discuss everything; I’m following his journey, and I believe he is following mine. We communicate frequently, but what he wishes to do is a matter between us. He will return, and we will continue moving forward. The final decision rests with the manager and the club.”

Marseille’s coach, Roberto De Zerbi, has issued a warning to Liverpool, asserting that his team can defeat any opponent when performing at their best. He commented, “They are a formidable team, but we need to replicate the performance we showcased tonight in every match—throughout the entire 90 minutes and across all 38 matches of the season. That is our area for improvement. We can compete strongly against Liverpool, but if we are not fully engaged, we risk losing to anyone. When prepared, we can challenge everyone.”

As it stands, Liverpool still has significant work ahead to secure a top-eight finish in the Champions League and guarantee automatic qualification for the knockout stages. Currently sitting in ninth place, Slot’s team faces critical fixtures against Marseille and Qarabag in their remaining matches. Slot is acutely aware of the threat posed by Marseille, who have already recorded three victories in the tournament, defeating Newcastle, Ajax, and Union Saint-Gilloise.