Manchester United legend Gary Neville has offered his assessment of the delicate situation surrounding Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah, speculating on the 33-year-old’s long-term future at Anfield following his public fallout with Head Coach Arne Slot.
Salah was recently reinstated to the squad, featuring in Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Brighton at the weekend, after being dropped for the Champions League trip to Inter Milan. The crisis stemmed from an explosive interview where the Egyptian international claimed the club had “thrown him under the bus” and suggested his relationship with Slot had broken down.
Speaking to newsmen, Neville analyzed the significance of Salah’s appearance against Brighton just before his departure for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco:
“Saturday was not a lap of honour of him leaving, it was more of a case of him going to AFCON, and then he can come back and play for Liverpool.”
Neville highlighted the unresolved issue of the conflict and suggested a lack of public reconciliation could be key to his eventual departure, drawing a parallel with similar high-profile exits he has witnessed.
“The one thing that I feel about this is that Arne Slot said he was looking for an apology. We’ve not heard that he [Salah] has apologised, so is he behind the manager? So maybe Salah will leave [Liverpool]. But my gut feeling is that he stays this season at Liverpool.”
The former defender’s comments reflect the ongoing tension at Liverpool. While the club’s quick action, which included showdown talks between Slot and Salah, allowed the player to feature before joining the Egyptian national team, reports suggest that not all issues were definitively resolved.
The winger signed a new contract with Liverpool in April 2025, tying him to the club until 2027. Sources indicate that Liverpool has zero intention of selling Salah in the January transfer window, remaining committed to keeping him despite strong interest from the Saudi Pro League (SPL).
Slot has stated he has “no reasons not wanting him to stay,” but he previously hinted that Salah needed to admit his mistake and apologize, though he has since played down the need for a public apology, stating, “what was said between me and him will stay between us.”
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