The Anfield faithful breathed a collective sigh of relief this morning as Arne Slot confirmed that Mohamed Salah is expected to return for a final send-off before the season concludes. While the Egyptian King will officially miss this Sunday’s high-stakes trip to Old Trafford, his injury is far less severe than initially feared.
Concerns reached a fever pitch last Saturday when Salah limped off in the 59th minute of Liverpool’s 3-1 win over Crystal Palace, waving a poignant goodbye to the fans before heading straight down the tunnel. However, scans have confirmed a minor muscle injury, sparing him a premature end to his legendary nine-year stint on Merseyside.
Missing the United Showdown
Arne Slot confirmed in his Friday press conference that Salah will not be available for the clash against Manchester United on May 3. For the first time in nearly a decade, Liverpool will travel to their arch-rivals without their most lethal weapon—a player who has scored a record 13 goals against the Red Devils.
“It is a big relief that his injury is minor,” Slot told reporters. “He is always working incredibly hard to get back. We expect and need him for the final part of the season, but not for Sunday. If any player deserves a big send-off, it is Mo.”
The Road to the Farewell
With Salah also likely to miss the upcoming home game against Chelsea on May 9, the medical staff is working to have him ready for the final two fixtures. Liverpool’s remaining schedule includes:
• Aston Villa (Away) – May 17
• Brentford (Home) – May 24 (The Final Farewell)
The target is for Salah to be fully fit for the season finale against Brentford at Anfield. It would be a fitting conclusion for a man who has topped the scoring charts and redefined the modern Liverpool era, especially ahead of Egypt’s World Cup campaign in June.
Alisson Update
In less positive news, Slot revealed that Alisson Becker is still not back in first-team training. The Brazilian goalkeeper has missed the last seven games with a hamstring issue, leaving Giorgi Mamardashvili to continue his impressive run between the posts for the run-in.
