'I know Mohamed Salah will do right thing at Liverpool — but he needs to answer one question'

Mohamed Salah's future at Liverpool remains up in the air following his recent outburst, and one club legend feels there's a big question for him to answer when he returns from AFCON

Mohamed Salah's future at Liverpool remains in doubt despite his return to the squad against Brighton(Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool legend John Barnes has backed Mohamed Salah to “do the right thing” upon his return from the Africa Cup of Nations, and insists he can see the winger seeing out the rest of his contract at Anfield.

Doubts still remain over Salah’s future with the Reds, despite his return to the squad against Brighton last weekend. Talks with Arne Slot clearly helped to repair some bridges after what was an explosive outburst against the club and his head coach just seven days earlier.

Salah had accused Liverpool of throwing him “under the bus”, and claimed that someone was trying to drive him out of the club after he had been named on the bench for three consecutive games.

Talks are set to continue between the 33-year-old’s representatives and the club while he’s away on international duty, although Barnes isn’t expecting any more outbursts from Salah.

“Mo is going away to the African Cup of Nations and I think he’ll come back and do the right thing," Barnes told BetMGM. “This is modern football, players do this regularly, so we have to get used to that.

“He has been fantastic for the club. The legacy is going to be untarnished, no matter what he does, because he's been a complete legend for the club in terms of what he's actually done.

John Barnes has had his say on Mohamed Salah's future at Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)

“I don't know whether he regrets what he said or doesn't regret what he said, but I know he'll act in the right way now. I don't think you’ll hear from him from a negative point of view again. For me, it's a bit of a blip.

“As to whether he feels that he has been treated harshly, only he knows. He's inside the club, he's in training every day and he knows what goes on.

“I think that he probably got it wrong in feeling that he was being blamed for the performances when he said he was thrown under the bus; it could have been anybody.

“I don’t think it was anything personal from Slot. For the balance of the team, he had to make a decision because in transition when Liverpool haven't got the ball they’re not defending well as a team.

“As a result, he had to leave one of the front three out – and it could have been any of the two wide players. He felt that it was Mo. It was just for the team to perform better, particularly from a defensive point of view.”

Barnes concedes there is still a question hanging over Salah’s future after the winger found himself out of the side. With 18 months left on his contract, it’s clear a decision will have to made one way or another soon.

Mohamed Salah has 18 months remaining on his contract at Liverpool(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

“I can see him being at Liverpool at the end of the season, and hopefully for another year. The big question is what does Mohamed Salah want?” Barnes continued.

“So come next season, if he's still at the club, does he feel he's going to play every week and be the main player? If he feels that’s not going to happen, then maybe he goes.

“If he's quite happy to be part of the squad but maybe not play every week and not be the main player, then he stays.

“So it's really up to Mo what he wants to do and how he sees his future.”