Arne Slot will not confirm whether Mohamed Salah will return to the Liverpool squad for Wednesday’s Premier League match against Sunderland at Anfield, after the Egyptian was left on the bench during Sunday’s 2-0 win over West Ham United.
Striker Salah, fourth on the list of all-time leading goalscorers in the Premier League, will leave for the Africa Cup of Nations on December 15.
«It’s a normal reaction from a player who is good enough to play for us (to be disappointed),» manager Slot told reporters on Tuesday. “He has been so outstanding for this club for so many years and that will continue in the future.
«He wasn’t the only one who wasn’t happy about not starting. The way he behaved is what you would expect from the professional he is. For Mo, he is so disciplined and knows what he has to do to stay fit.»
Salah’s last match before the Nations Cup is expected to be against Brighton on December 13, and if Egypt reaches the final he would miss seven Liverpool matches.
WORST RUN IN OVER 70 YEARS
Defending champions Liverpool are eighth in the table with 21 points, nine behind leaders Arsenal, after their worst run of 12 games in all competitions in more than 70 years.
Slot’s men have lost their last two home games, but Sunderland, who are sixth with 22 points, have not won at Anfield since 1983.
Positive for Slot is the record signing of Alexander Isak, who scored his first Premier League goal in eight games for his new team against West Ham.
READ ALSO | Isak breaks Premier League drought as Liverpool earns a crucial win
Florian Wirtz also returned after missing two games due to injury, while Joe Gomez made his first top-flight start in eleven months.
Sunderland is the first of three games in six days for Liverpool, including a Champions League match at Inter Milan next Tuesday.
«It was encouraging to see Florian play so well, it was not the first time he played well for us. And also for Alex,» said Slot.
“(Isak) told me yesterday that he already felt a little cramp coming on, so we’ll see how he trains today.
“I don’t think Isak, Wirtz and Gomez are capable of playing three ninety minutes
Published on December 2, 2025
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