Mohamed Salah: Liverpool coach Arne Sloat is happy to return from the African Cup of Nations

Mohamed Salah will return Liverpool Next week as coach Arne Slott said he would be happy to have the striker back even if he had “15 strikers”.

Over the past month, Salah has been on international duty with Egypt in the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), but will return to Merseyside after Saturday’s third-place match against Nigeria.

The 33-year-old gave a dramatic interview shortly before leaving for the Africa Cup of Nations, in which he claimed that “someone doesn’t want me at the club” and that he no longer has any relationship with Sloat.

He was later left out of Liverpool’s squad for their 1–0 win over Inter Milan, but came off the bench to register an assist against Brighton four days later.

Slot said before the Inter match that he had no idea whether Salah, who scored 250 goals in 421 matches for Liverpool, had played his last match for the club, but he was now ready to welcome him back.

“First of all, he needs to play another big match for Egypt on Saturday and then come back to us,” Slott said.

“I’m happy to have him back. Mohamed was very important for this club, for me, so I’m happy to have him back.

“Even if I had 15 strikers I would have been happy if he came back, but that is not our current situation.”

Liverpool have not lost in six matches since Salah left for the African Cup of Nations, and won three matches, and will face Burnley at Anfield on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

But with record signing Alexander Isak out for several months after undergoing surgery on a fractured left leg, Slott will be happy to bolster his attacking options.

The Reds travel to Marseille for a Champions League match on Wednesday, but no decision has been made on whether Salah will be available for that, or whether he will be postponed until the match against Bournemouth on January 24.

“We talk together about [the Marseille game] Now,” Slott said.

“We are having conversations with him about what is expected of him there, and what is expected of him here. But above all, he needs to play an important match on Saturday and he will be back next week.”

In his conversations with Salah following the public dispute last month, the Dutchman added: “Whatever happens between me and Mohamed, on the phone or here, stays between us.”

“And I don’t think it’s necessary for me to share all the private conversations I have.”

Slott also confirmed that Liverpool have no other injury concerns apart from long-term absentees Isaac, Connor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni.