20 January 2026
Egyptian international Mohamed Salah has returned to his club, Liverpool, after participating with his national team in the Africa Cup of Nations, which concluded in Morocco last Sunday.
Salah is scheduled to undergo medical tests before Liverpool's trip to face Olympique Marseille in the seventh (penultimate) round of the Champions League group stage on Wednesday.
British reports revealed that Salah returned to Liverpool a month after leaving the club amidst doubts about his future following a dispute with Dutch manager Arne Slot.
After being left out of Liverpool's starting lineup for three consecutive matches, Salah made fiery statements after the team's draw with Leeds United, accusing the club of abandoning him after a decline in results.
The "Egyptian Pharaoh" also hinted at a lack of relationship with Slot, raising doubts about whether he would remain at the club. These statements led to his exclusion from the squad that traveled to Milan to face Inter Milan in the Champions League.
After missing the Inter Milan match, Salah returned to Liverpool's starting lineup against Brighton in the Premier League, coming on as an early substitute in the first half for Joe Gomez. However, he then departed for Morocco to participate in the Africa Cup of Nations, leaving his future at Anfield uncertain.
Liverpool are scheduled to train later today, Tuesday, before heading to France, and Salah, who played last Saturday in Egypt's third-place match against Nigeria in the Africa Cup of Nations, may join his teammates.
Liverpool are aiming for a top-eight finish in the Champions League group stage to secure direct qualification for the knockout rounds.
Liverpool, seeking to reclaim their continental title which has eluded them since 2019, currently sit ninth in the group, level on points with Inter Milan, Real Madrid, and Atletico Madrid, who occupy sixth through eighth place respectively.
