Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah faces an uncertain future at Anfield after a controversial interview last weekend but has been included in Arne Slot’s squad against Brighton this weekend
Mohamed Salah’s potential exit route to Al Nassr may be complicated by a reportedly tense relationship with former teammate Sadio Mane. The Egyptian has remained on the bench for Liverpool’s last three Premier League matches and was left out of the Reds’ squad entirely for their trip to Inter Milan in midweek.
Salah’s absence came after an incendiary post-match interview where he claimed he had been “thrown under the bus”. The forward also cited a breakdown in his relationship with Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.
The Reds’ under-pressure boss confirmed in his Friday morning press conference that he was set for talks with Salah. It has now been confirmed that Slot has included the 33-year-old on his squad for Saturday’s clash at home to Brighton & Hove Albion (3pm kick-off).
But speculation continues to swirl over Salah’s long-term future ahead of the Janaury transfer window. One potential exit route is reportedly Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr.
The Telegraph report that Saudi clubs have funds to land Salah despite scaling back their spending on transfers. It is said there is widespread interest in bringing him to the Middle East for his profile “on and off the pitch”, with Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad, and Al-Ahli also reportedly interested.
However, any possible move to Al-Nassr may be difficult if previous comments from ex-Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino are anything to go by.
In an extract from his book, Si Senor, about an incident in August 2019, he said. “We were in the tunnel, heading back to the dressing room after a convincing 3–0 victory against Burnley. The atmosphere was obviously tense.
“Despite the good result, the game had been marked by a burst of fury from Sadio Mané when he was substituted in the final minutes. The cameras caught everything.
“Sadio wasn’t only angry about being subbed off: a little earlier, Mohamed Salah had attempted a shot on goal when he had a clear pass on to Mané, who was free inside the box. Well, my English isn’t wonderful, so I can’t tell you exactly what Mané shouted when he came off.
“But it wasn’t anything nice! James Milner tried to calm him down, but Sadio remained furious, sitting fuming on the bench, gesturing repeatedly.”
Expanding further on their relationship, He added: “They were never best friends; each kept himself to himself. It was rare to see the two of them talking and I’m not sure if that had to do with the Egypt–Senegal rivalry in African competitions.
“I truly don’t know. But they also never stopped talking, never severed ties. They always acted with the utmost professionalism.”
Salah’s intensity and refusal to accept lower standards from himself or those around him have underpinned Liverpool’s success.
“We are all massively influenced by our past – how we were raised, where we grew up,” former Reds boss Jurgen Klopp previously said, via BBC Sport. “Mo knew early on (in his life) that he had to do more than others.
“He always developed. He never stops. That is his mindset.
“After each summer break he came back and had a new skill. It was like he had spent the whole time just practising one particular type of pass.
“We pushed each other, just to make sure that we would never stop. And we never did stop. That moment lifting the Premier League bonded us for life. He will be remembered as one of the greatest of all time.
“I wouldn’t say he is easy to manage, but he is also not difficult to manage. You (only) have problems with Mo Salah if he is not playing or you take him off.”
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Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games this season, an increase of up to 100 more.
