Exclusive with Graeme Bailey.
Liverpool have played down any talk of a rift emerging with Mohamed Salah after he was left out of the starting XI for Wednesday’s trip to Eintracht Frankfurt, Rousing The Kop can reveal.
Salah was criticised by supporters following the match having failed to square a simple pass for Florian Wirtz to score his first Liverpool goal.
There were reports following the game that Salah immediately headed down the tunnel at full-time, although it has since emerged that the Egyptian did acknowledge the travelling fans first.
Either way, Salah soon caused headlines by removing mention of Liverpool from his social media accounts, as well as changing or deleting profile pictures featuring him playing for the Reds.
However, sources have indicated to RTK that there is currently no issue with Salah, and the incident is being seen internally as much ado about nothing.
Liverpool think Mohamed Salah has a future with the club
Liverpool are only six months removed from giving Salah a new, two-year extension with the club, and while there is an acceptance that he may not complete that period, he is still seen as a key part of Arne Slot’s plans.
As journalist Graeme Bailey exclusively explains to RTK, the very fact that Slot is rotating Salah more this season is proof that Liverpool are trying to keep him around for as long as possible.
“A Liverpool source told me that if they really didn’t think there was any sort of future with Salah they’d just be playing him into the ground anyway and running down the tread on his tyres,” says Bailey. “They’re not doing that. They are thinking about it longer term, he could still have two years at the club.
READ MORE: Alexander Isak in contention for Liverpool against Brentford, two players ruled out – Arne Slot
“Form’s temporary, class is permanent and I think that sums up Salah’s situation perfectly. They’ll potentially start to look at it in the New Year, is the plan for Salah to move on next summer? It could happen, of course it could.”
Bailey also comments on the social media storm around the 33-year-old, claiming that there is little worry inside Anfield over Salah’s recent activity.
“The social media stuff has been played down to me a little bit,” says Bailey. “There was always going to be less reliance on Salah this season. He hasn’t had a good season so far, but not many Liverpool players have.
“It’s not a massive thing within the club, it isn’t as though he’s been dropped for a long period, and he’s not been dropped, the whole system has changed, so there will be times when they can rest Salah and other players as well.”
Salah expected to start vs Brentford
After being taken off early against Manchester United, and starting from the bench in midweek, Salah is expected to return to the starting line-up against Burnley on Saturday.
Slot could be without Alexander Isak for the trip to West London, with the Swede’s absence making Salah’s inclusion virtually certain.
Having only scored one Premier League non-penalty goal this season, the pressure is on the No. 11 to get back to scoring ways.
Whether Salah does or does not return to his old self just yet, though, Liverpool certainly are not ready to make any knee-jerk reactions.
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