Premier League news conferences: Slot to speak about Salah's return

What does the future hold for Salah?

Aadam Patel

BBC Sport Liverpool reporter

"No one in the country wants to win this title more than me. I've won everything in football except this one, and I've been carrying this pressure for a long time."

Those were Salah's words before the semi-final defeat.

When Egypt were knocked out by DR Congo in the round-of-16 in 2023, Salah was criticised after leaving the tournament during the group stage due to injury.

In 2021, Salah never got to take penalty in the final as he was the fifth penalty-taker, with Mane scoring the decisive penalty to give Senegal the title.

Salah should get a chance again to achieve his dream in the summer of 2027 when the next edition of Afcon takes place in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

He will turn 35 during that tournament while his current Liverpool contract is set to expire that summer but he remains in peak condition.

In the here and now, Liverpool will be glad to have Salah back, particularly given their injury crisis.

With Bradley out, Jeremie Frimpong is likely to deputise at right-back so Salah may return down the right flank unless Slot goes with Dominik Szoboszlai there in a 4-2-3-1 shape, like he did in that game against Brighton.

Salah could also play up top though Hugo Ekitike is currently the preferred option there.

The understanding is that Salah will remain a Liverpool player until at least the summer, where he will lead Egypt at the World Cup.

What happens after that remains to be seen. Salah is a player who wants to start football matches and will not be content with sitting on the bench.

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