ARNE SLOT expects Mo Salah to STAY at Liverpool beyond January — after confirming he WILL return after Afcon.
Salah came off the bench to help beat Brighton, a week after hinting he might never play for the club again in an explosive rant about boss Slot.
The forward’s name was sung by Kop fans as he waved goodbye before heading off on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Egypt.
And Slot, who held showdown talks with Salah on Friday, said: “I expect him to be back after Afcon.
“It was an easy decision to put him in the squad. I was happy with the situation, or I wouldn’t have done that.
“What has been said between us during that conversation will be staying between us.
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“What you see is what you get to know — that he was in the squad and my first substitution.”
Salah, 33, sensationally claimed he had been “thrown under the bus” by the club in a bombshell interview following last Saturday’s 3-3 Premier League draw at Leeds.
He also suggested that his relationship with Slot had broken down — and was subsequently left out of the Reds’ squad for Tuesday’s 1-0 Champions League win at Inter Milan.
Salah started Saturday’s game on the bench for a fourth Prem match in a row under Dutchman Slot.
But the Anfield rebel was introduced on 27 minutes in place of the injured Joe Gomez.
And Salah played a role in the crucial victory — sending over the corner for Hugo Ekitike’s second goal of the day at Anfield.
Salah’s assist saw him become a record-breaker again as he move on to 277 goal involvements for Liverpool in the Premier League.
That meant he passed Wayne Rooney’s record for Manchester United.
And he looked as happy as his manager Slot, whose improving side made it five games unbeaten in all competitions. The Reds had lost nine of the previous 12 before that.
Slot said: “The reason he wasn’t in Milan was because of his interview.
“I spoke to him yesterday and as a sub he performed how everybody would like him to perform.
“Mo will go to Afcon, I hope he does very well. Now we have to play here without him.”
Ekitike opened the scoring with a fine volley after just 46 SECONDS — Liverpool’s fastest Prem goal since Naby Keita’s effort against Huddersfield back in April 2019.
The French forward, 23, sealed the points with a second-half header, his tenth goal for the club.
Ekitike said of Salah: “Mo is a great, great professional.
“I look to him as an example. You can see how much he is involved in the goals and assists.
“He is just a legend here. To share the pitch is a blessing.
“That’s the kind of player who makes us like to watch football.”
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