Tension at Anfield Before the Break

One of the supposed keys to a successful partnership with a fellow human being is never going to sleep after a fight. Any conflict should be resolved or at least parked amicably before bedtime comes.

That’s pretty much the technique that Liverpool and Mohamed Salah have followed in dealing with the Egyptian legend’s departure to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. A few days before last weekend’s Premier League match with Brighton, Salah had moved into Anfield’s spare room. Things were frosty. Icy stares were being passed to each other over breakfast.

The player had found himself warming the Liverpool bench after some middling performances for the faltering Premier League champions. Arne Slot had decided that Salah was one of the root causes for the slump. Salah did not take kindly to this change of status. He complained to the press about being thrown under Liverpool’s bus and reported on what he perceived to be a fallout with his manager. “All of a sudden, we don't have any relationship,” said Salah.

A Temporary Reconciliation and a Timely Exit

Since that comment set the scandal-loving football world alight, Salah and Slot have since had a temporary reconciliation of sorts. The footballer was recalled to the squad for the match against Brighton, having been left out against Inter Milan in the Champions League. Although the forward was back on the bench, fortune conspired to see Salah enter the fray in the first half due to an injury to Joe Gomez.

Although Salah didn’t score, the player was in sprightly form on the Anfield pitch, contributing to a 2-0 win and receiving a warm reception from the Liverpool fans, despite lambasting their beloved club in public. But now Salah has left the spare room to join up with Egypt for a few weeks, the football equivalent of moving back in with his parents. Salah and Liverpool are officially on a relationship break.

This break will last as long as Egypt’s participation at AFCON 2025 – potentially up to January 18th – and will allow a pause to see how much Liverpool misses Salah and just as importantly, how much Salah misses Liverpool.

AFCON Reflections and an Uncertain Future

Despite signing a new contract with Liverpool in the summer until 2027, links with a move to Saudi Arabia resurfaced in earnest in recent weeks, once Salah’s public spat with Slot began. The footballer will certainly have some time to think about what he wants next for his career, although his duties as Egypt’s captain will be number one priority.

Salah’s personal history with the Africa Cup of Nations has not been an enjoyable one. Egypt has not won AFCON since 2010, having been the absolute kings of the tournament before then. Salah and Egypt failed to qualify in 2012, 2013 and 2015, were knocked out on home soil in the Round of 16 in 2017, lost on penalties in the 2021 final, and Salah was injured in the group stages of the 2023 edition.

While AFCON 2025 might offer Salah time to emotionally unpack the tumultuous past few weeks with Liverpool, it doesn’t necessarily mean that life will be any easier with his club.

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