Slot reveals why Salah returned to Liverpool squad

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has explained why Egypt forward Mohamed Salah was restored into the squad for their Premier League fixture against Brighton at Anfield on Saturday.

Hugo doubling our lead 🎯 #LIVBHA pic.twitter.com/0KcTMS4fvg

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 13, 2025

After missing the Champions League fixture against Milan, Salah returned to the bench for the Brighton game and came on as a substitute in the 2-0 win.

During the game, Salah set a new Premier League record for goal involvements for a single club. The Egyptian took his combined tally of goals and assists in the top flight with The Reds to 277. By setting up Hugo Ekitike’s header, Salah’s totals now show 188 goals and 89 assists in the Premier League since joining the Reds in 2017.

Salah knows why he wasn’t in Milan

Asked about his return to the squad, Slot told Liverpool website: “I think the reason why he wasn’t in Milan was his interview and the question is always – and everybody has a different opinion about that – should he be once, twice, three times, four times, four months, 12 years… every manager makes [a] different decision in that.”

“He wasn’t involved in the game against Milan, I spoke to him yesterday and usually I never say anything about what we talk about, I am not going to make an exception now but I think actions speak louder than what has been said.”

Slot added: “He was in the squad again and when I had to make my first substitution, I brought him in and he performed as I think every fan – including me – would like him to perform today.”

On why Salah applauded the fans at the end of the game, Slot explained:

“I think he wasn’t the only player who walked around the pitch thanking the fans because the fans deserved a thank you from us. I think our players worked incredibly hard today to keep a clean sheet and for the first time in weeks – or maybe I should say months – we had a little bit of luck with that as well. I think we did a lot of things well, but also had a little bit of luck. We’ve had games where we’ve not conceded a chance but conceded three goals.”

“Today we definitely did concede chances but they didn’t go in. Mo is going to go to the AFCON now, I hope he is going to do very well and in the meantime we have to play here without him with not that many players available at the moment. The good thing is we play on Saturday and then a week in between and then again Saturday. That’s the situation.”

Salah is scheduled to link up with the Egypt squad ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.