Szoboszlai silences Marseille before Liverpool and Salah return to winning ways

Arne Slot has all but confirmed that Mohamed Salah will go straight back into Liverpool’s starting line-up for tonight’s crucial Champions League tie against Marseille.

The head coach said his team selection would reflect whether there is a problem between him and the Egypt forward who has just returned from his country’s involvement in the Africa Cup of Nations.

“The first time he’s able to be in the squad again, he is because he trained with us today and is in the squad for tomorrow. Let’s see for the lineup tomorrow if you still think there’s an issue,” Slot said, when asked whether Salah’s time away has given him time to reflect on the apparently strained relationship between the pair.

In early December, Salah declared that he felt he had been “thrown under the bus” after being dropped to the bench for three successive games, including the draw away to Leeds United after which he spoke out.

At the time Slot responded by saying he was surprised by Salah’s angry comments and left the 33-year-old out of his squad for the Champions League tie away to Inter Milan before bringing him back.

Salah came on as an early substitute in the win at home to Brighton & Hove Albion before departing for Afcon but there remains an expectation that while he will not leave in the January transfer window this may still be his last season at Liverpool. Saudi Pro-League clubs are preparing to make offers for him.

If, as expected, Salah starts against Marseille it will be his first for Liverpool in almost two months – since another Champions League, at home to PSV Eindhoven. He has not scored for Liverpool since November 1 but did score four times in five games for Egypt in the run to the Afcon semi-finals.

“There’s been a moment in the season where I decided not to play Mo,” Slot said. “And one moment where I decided not to take him to the game (Inter). For all the other games, he’s been in the squad and he was the first substitution against Brighton so at that moment of time, there’s never been an issue for me.”

Slot said he had spoken to Salah earlier on Tuesday and added: “In his absence we have done quite okay in terms of hardly conceding any chances. We have started to create more and more and if we create more and more it’s really helpful to have a player like Mo Salah… the amount of chances, the amount of ball possession against Burnley with Mo on the pitch would usually mean we would score more. That’s why I am really happy when he is back. Creating chances is nice but we are only judged on the result and that wasn’t nice.”