James Pearce says Mohamed Salah’s return to the Liverpool squad is a positive development, but it offers no certainty about what will come next.
It was revealed on Friday evening that Mohamed Salah will be part of Liverpool’s matchday squad for this afternoon’s Premier League clash with Brighton at Anfield.
The Egyptian had been left behind when the Reds travelled to Italy for their Champions League win over Inter Milan earlier in the week, following his explosive post-match remarks after last weekend’s 3-3 draw with Leeds.
Speaking in his press conference on Friday morning, Arne Slot confirmed he planned to hold talks with Salah later that day over the possibility of reintegrating him for the visit of the Seagulls. Those conversations reportedly proved constructive, ultimately clearing the path for the 33-year-old’s return to the squad.
Pearce hails recall but urges caution
James Pearce broke the news for The Athletic on Friday night and shared his perspective, labelling Salah’s recall a “welcome decision” for the dressing room and one that will bring “a huge sense of relief” after growing concerns that the forward’s Liverpool future could already be in doubt.
However, Pearce was keen to stress that the issue is far from resolved. He warned that it would be “naive” to assume everything has now been settled.
Salah, he noted, had struggled to hide his frustration after being benched for three consecutive matches, and there is no assurance that he will immediately reclaim a starting role after returning from AFCON. Liverpool, meanwhile, have taken eight points from a possible twelve since his omission, with Slot tweaking the system to make the side more compact.
Short-term peace or long-term solution?
As Pearce suggests, being named in the squad does not guarantee Salah’s first start in five games, but his availability gives Slot an extra option, particularly with Cody Gakpo sidelined and Alexander Isak’s fitness uncertain.
This also marks Liverpool’s final outing before Salah departs for the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday, meaning any involvement against Brighton would be his last appearance at Anfield for several weeks.
It remains striking that the Reds are currently enjoying their longest unbeaten run in three months without their third-highest goalscorer ever in the starting XI, especially after questions had been raised about his form prior to his recent exclusion.
Still, the fact that Slot and Salah have been able to bridge the gap enough for the winger to be considered today is a positive development. Liverpool will need to be at their sharpest to overcome a Brighton side that has caused them problems in recent seasons.
Whether this represents a temporary ceasefire or the beginning of a more permanent resolution remains to be seen. For now, it at least shows that both parties are willing to put any differences aside for the good of the team — and at Anfield, the collective always comes first.
