Mohamed Salah return sparks fresh Liverpool questions Arne Slot must find solution to

Mohamed Salah's return to Liverpool will be a welcome boost for a side lacking creative inspiration, but there issues that must still be addressed

Mohamed Salah returns to Liverpool this week after his spell at AFCON(Image: )

At least Mohamed Salah managed to bow out of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) without much fanfare or fuss.

That’s a rarity for a player whose every movement dominates headlines in Liverpool and abroad, and while his missed penalty did prove terminal for Egypt in the decisive third-place shootout on Saturday, given the trivial nature of the contest, it drew little attention.

That Liverpool had just drawn with relegation-threatened Burnley, and the subsequent chaos that ensued the following night as Senegal beat Morocco in the controversial final, helped shift the focus. So did Salah’s impressive personal displays at AFCON; perhaps for the first time this season, the Reds don’t need to be alarmed by the 33-year-old’s form.

He provided four goals and an assist in six appearances. Prior to the semi-final, Salah carried Egypt, scoring three match-winning goals.

Arne Slot will at least hope his hiatus from club soccer sees the talismanic attacker return with greater confidence and determination.

It’s unclear still at this stage whether Salah will be involved in Liverpool’s Champions League trip to Marseille, but he will almost certainly be back in time for the Premier League outing against Bournemouth on Saturday. Given the Reds' dearth of options and the deficiencies in attack, Salah’s return will be a welcome relief.

“I am happy that he comes back,” the Dutchman said on Friday. “Mo has been so important for this club, for me, so I am happy that he is back. Even if I had 15 attackers I still would have been happy if he came back, but that is not our current situation.”

Salah returns to Liverpool after failing to win AFCON again(Image: Getty Images)

On the surface, that response seems the typically banal answer one should expect from a Premier League head coach. Yet, even Slot’s need to clarify his feelings on having the Egyptian back tells its own story. The repetition of the word ‘happy’ felt almost deliberate — a subtle attempt to extinguish speculation rather than invite it.

But Salah’s return means there will finally be a closure of sorts on his infamous Elland Road mixed-zone rant, when he took aim at the club and Slot. Salah was omitted from the squad that traveled to Inter Milan a few days later, but he was then reintroduced for the win over Brighton & Hove Albion, with the winger playing a starring role in the 2-0 victory.

There was a sense the former Roma and Fiorentina forward’s departure to AFCON allowed tensions to cool and that a final resolution would be reached upon his return. Nearly seven weeks on from that draw at Leeds, and the time has finally arrived.

In his absence, Anfield executives have continued to monitor the situation. Whether decisive action will be taken or if the embarrassing mess can be put to bed remains unclear. Salah could still face disciplinary action, though whether the club makes that public is also unknown.

Slot still has plenty to consider in relation to Salah(Image: Getty Images)

Other questions remain about the club’s third-highest all-time scorer, namely, how does Slot get the best from the supremely talented winger?

After all, his underwhelming displays and meagre defensive output meant his status as a guaranteed starter has been revoked. Salah last started a club game nearly two months ago. Coincidentally or not, that was Liverpool’s last defeat.

And while the Reds have not always convinced in the 12 unbeaten games since, there has at least been a more robust, structured look to the team. Whether Salah, who was granted greater defensive dispensation last season, can play his part in that team is up for debate.

Salah apologists would point to the Brighton match as an example of how Liverpool’s no.11 can pull his weight in a more cohesive unit, while Slot could undoubtedly do with even a sprinkling of the magic dust that overflowed copiously from Salah’s pockets this time last year.

There is also the Florian Wirtz element to Slot’s increasingly complex selection conundrum. The German has excelled in Salah’s absence and has now scored four in his last six. He lined up in a fluid right-wing position on Saturday against Burnley, but popped up all over the pitch, a role unsuited to Salah’s talents.

In reality, Liverpool has yet to see the duo shine together. If Slot can stumble across a formula that maximises the talents of both, it could well salvage Liverpool’s season — and perhaps Slot’s job along with it.