{"id":633236,"date":"2025-12-15T04:33:17","date_gmt":"2025-12-15T04:33:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/633236\/"},"modified":"2025-12-15T04:33:17","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T04:33:17","slug":"arne-slot-sweating-over-injured-star-as-mohamed-salah-absence-adds-to-liverpool-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/633236\/","title":{"rendered":"Arne Slot sweating over injured star as Mohamed Salah absence adds to Liverpool crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Arne Slot will have to make a number of changes to his squad when Liverpool travel to Tottenham Hotspur next weekend<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0_GettyImages-2251728155.jpg\" alt=\"Arne Slot, head coach of Liverpool, talks to his players during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Brighton &amp; Hove Albion at Anfield\" loading=\"eager\"  \/>Arne Slot, head coach of Liverpool, talks to his players during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Brighton &amp; Hove Albion at Anfield(Image: 2025 Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Arne Slot has spent the past fortnight fielding a plethora of questions about <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/mohamed-salah\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Mohamed Salah<\/a> and whether or not he\u2019ll be in his Liverpool starting XI or even squad following his explosive interview at Elland Road. But with the Egyptian now departing for the Africa Cup of Nations, the Dutchman will at least be afforded a respite.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Having sat out the Reds\u2019 trip to Inter Milan as a result of his comments, Salah was recalled for <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/sport\/football\/football-news\/liverpool-heroes-old-new-combine-33051763\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Saturday\u2019s win over Brighton &amp; Hove Albion<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">And although he started on the bench, he made a decisive impact after being brought on midway through the first half as he assisted <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/hugo-ekitike\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Hugo EkitikeLink opens in a new tab.\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Hugo Ekitike<\/a>\u2019s second goal in the 2-0 win.<\/p>\n<p>READ MORE: <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/sport\/football\/football-news\/curtis-jones-shares-mohamed-salahs-33054624\" data-tmdatatrack=\"read-more\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"33054624\" data-tmdatatrack-source=\"editorial\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Curtis Jones shares Mohamed Salah&#8217;s message to Liverpool squad and shuts down critics<\/a>READ MORE: <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/sport\/football\/football-news\/what-mohamed-salah-said-mixed-33054823\" data-tmdatatrack=\"read-more\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"33054823\" data-tmdatatrack-source=\"editorial\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">What Mohamed Salah said in mixed zone after Liverpool recall as Arne Slot &#8216;drops&#8217; another player<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">With <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/arne-slot\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Slot <\/a>having bemoaned having just 13 available senior outfield players ahead of facing the Seagulls, <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/mohamed-salah\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Salah<\/a>\u2019s return was a welcome one.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">But he will continue to face a selection dilemma in the weeks ahead with his star forward away on international duty and<a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/liverpool-fc\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\"> Liverpool<\/a> continuing to be troubled by injury.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cMo is going to go to AFCON now,\u201d <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/sport\/football\/football-news\/arne-slot-makes-final-mohamed-33051772\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Slot said in his post-match press conference<\/a>. \u201cI hope he is going to do very well and in the meantime we have to play here without him, with not that many players available at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/sport\/football\/football-news\/arne-slot-confirms-new-liverpool-33053160\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Both Joe Gomez and Dominik Szoboszlai would limp off in the victory over Brighton<\/a>, potentially depleting the head coach\u2019s options further.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">With Liverpool next in action away to Tottenham Hotspur next Saturday, <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">the ECHO<\/a> takes a look at the changes Slot might have to make to his side\u2026<\/p>\n<p><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Bradley is back<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Having seen <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/joe-gomez\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Gomez<\/a> limp off with a hamstring injury, Slot has already confirmed that he expects the England international to miss the trip to the capital.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Fortunately for the Reds, though, they will welcome at least one right-back back to their squad with <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/conor-bradley\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Conor Bradley<\/a> available again after serving a one-game suspension and likely to start as a result.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/jeremie-frimpong\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Jeremie FrimpongLink opens in a new tab.\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Jeremie Frimpong<\/a> is closing in on his own return too, having been sidelined since October with a hamstring injury of his own, though it remains to be seen if he will be available for selection to face Tottenham.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">With Gomez injured, Slot\u2019s hand will be forced at centre-back with <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/virgil-van-dijk\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Virgil van DijkLink opens in a new tab.\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Virgil van Dijk<\/a> and <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/ibrahima-konate\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Ibrahima KonateLink opens in a new tab.\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Ibrahima Konate<\/a> now his only available senior options.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He could make a change at left-back though as <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/milos-kerkez\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Milos KerkezLink opens in a new tab.\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Milos Kerkez<\/a> and <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/andy-robertson\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Andy RobertsonLink opens in a new tab.\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Andy Robertson<\/a> continue to rotate.<\/p>\n<p><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Sweating over Szoboszlai<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/dominik-szoboszlai\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Szoboszlai<\/a> has been one of Liverpool\u2019s stars of the season so far, with it inevitably a massive blow for the team if they are left without him because of injury.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The Hungary international was in visible discomfort after suffering an ankle injury against Brighton. And while he initially attempted to play, he conceded defeat before being withdrawn in the closing moments.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Should he not be fit for the trip to Tottenham, Slot\u2019s options in midfield would be left somewhat limited.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/florian-wirtz\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Florian WirtzLink opens in a new tab.\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Florian Wirtz<\/a>, <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/alexis-mac-allister\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Alexis Mac AllisterLink opens in a new tab.\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Alexis Mac Allister<\/a>, <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/curtis-jones\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Curtis JonesLink opens in a new tab.\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Curtis Jones<\/a> and <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/ryan-gravenberch\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Ryan GravenberchLink opens in a new tab.\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Ryan Gravenberch<\/a> would all be expected to keep their places, with no other senior alternatives available given that <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/wataru-endo\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Wataru EndoLink opens in a new tab.\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Wataru Endo<\/a> is also currently sidelined with an ankle injury.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Trey Nyoni was not named in the squad to face Brighton, but would at least offer a reserve option if selected.<\/p>\n<p><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Isak back in<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Having suffered a knock in the win over Inter Milan, <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/alexander-isak\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Alexander Isak<\/a> dropped to the bench for the win over Brighton, while it was Salah who was introduced ahead of him when Slot had to make a first half change.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">But given the Egyptian\u2019s AFCON commitments, <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/Cody-Gakpo\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Cody GakpoLink opens in a new tab.\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Cody Gakpo<\/a>\u2019s own injury and Szoboszlai\u2019s possible absence, the Swede is well-placed to earn a recall in attack against Tottenham with Slot\u2019s available players perhaps pointing to use of a diamond set-up.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">If not, <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/federico-chiesa\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Federico ChiesaLink opens in a new tab.\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Federico Chiesa<\/a> is also an option across the front three, while <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/rio-ngumoha\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Rio NgumohaLink opens in a new tab.\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Rio Ngumoha<\/a> offers further depth from the bench if required.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Arne Slot will have to make a number of changes to his squad when Liverpool travel to Tottenham&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":633237,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8815],"tags":[9261,748,8928,22688,393,4884,14207,179,763,1128,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-633236","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-liverpool","8":"tag-alexander-isak","9":"tag-britain","10":"tag-conor-bradley","11":"tag-dominik-szoboszlai","12":"tag-england","13":"tag-great-britain","14":"tag-joe-gomez","15":"tag-liverpool","16":"tag-liverpool-fc","17":"tag-mohamed-salah","18":"tag-uk","19":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115721719432441709","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/633236","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=633236"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/633236\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/633237"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=633236"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=633236"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=633236"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}