Salah on the Bench as Liverpool Face Brighton Amid Uncertainty
There was a noticeable buzz around Anfield ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League clash with Brighton, and much of it centered on one name on the team sheet. Mohamed Salah, one of the club’s biggest icons of the modern era, was named among the substitutes rather than in the starting eleven. On the surface, it looked like a simple selection decision, but in reality, it carried far more weight and emotion than usual.
This was Salah’s first inclusion in a Liverpool matchday squad since a turbulent week that followed the dramatic 3-3 draw with Leeds. After that game, it was claimed by Salah that he had been “thrown under the bus” by the club, a comment that immediately sparked debate among fans, pundits, and former players. Since then, the atmosphere around his future has felt tense, and every decision involving him has been closely scrutinized.
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Liverpool manager Arne Slot opted to name only eight substitutes instead of the usual nine, and Salah was one of them. He had also been left out of the squad entirely for the midweek Champions League win over Inter Milan in Italy, which added to the sense that something significant was unfolding behind the scenes. At 33 years old, Salah is preparing to leave for the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday, meaning this Brighton match could be his final appearance in a Liverpool squad before international duty.
Speculation around his future has not gone away. Saudi Pro League clubs have shown strong interest, and it is well known that a £150 million bid from Al-Ittihad was rejected back in the summer of 2023. With the transfer window set to reopen next month and 18 months still left on his current contract, the possibility that this could be Salah’s last chapter at Anfield cannot be completely dismissed.
Despite not scoring for Liverpool since early November and not starting a game for five consecutive matches, Salah’s legacy at the club remains immense. He is Liverpool’s third-highest goalscorer of all time, with 250 goals in 420 appearances, numbers that underline just how influential he has been. Last weekend, Salah revealed he had invited his family to attend the Brighton game, hinting that it could feel like a farewell. He openly admitted he did not know what would happen once he left for AFCON.
Earlier in the week, Slot said he had “no clue” whether Salah had already played his last game for Liverpool. However, following more positive talks, the Egyptian forward was included in the squad. His agent is expected to hold further discussions with the club while Salah is away on international duty. For now, though, the focus remains on the pitch, where Liverpool face Brighton with uncertainty swirling, and one of their greatest players waits on the bench, ready to make an impact if called upon.
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