Egypt Boss Drops Bombshell Prediction on Mohamed Salah's Liverpool Future
Egypt's head coach Hossam Hassan has dismissed suggestions of a "crisis" surrounding Mohamed Salah's situation at Liverpool, expressing confidence that the forward will utilize his Africa Cup of Nations participation to regain his peak performance levels.
Salah has faced challenges at the beginning of the 2025–26 campaign, with Liverpool boss Arne Slot choosing to leave him on the bench for Premier League matches against West Ham United, Sunderland and Leeds United. The forward later stated he felt "thrown under the bus" by the club and mentioned having no relationship with Slot.
Following these events, Salah was completely excluded from Liverpool's Champions League victory over Inter, and once again found himself starting as a substitute against Brighton & Hove Albion in Premier League action, meaning he hasn't been in the starting lineup for their previous five matches in all competitions.
This significant breakdown has sparked speculation that Salah might depart Liverpool soon, though any potential transfer would likely need to wait until after AFCON concludes, with Hassan expressing optimism that Salah can reverse his fortunes while representing his country.
"When Salah's club form suffers, he typically rediscovers his power with the national squad and performs even better, whether through assists or finding the net himself. He then returns to his club with renewed vigor," Hassan explained.
Hassan: No Crisis for Salah at Liverpool
The Egypt manager disclosed that he had maintained communication with Salah during the public disagreement and harbored no worries about the player's mental state.
Hassan elaborated: "Salah's spirits during training sessions are exceptionally high, as though he's just beginning his journey with the national squad, and I'm convinced he'll deliver an outstanding tournament for his nation.
"I sense his drive is incredibly powerful. Salah represents greatness and will continue to do so. He ranks among the world's finest players, and I back him completely in all his endeavors."
"I don't view what occurred as a crisis. Such situations frequently arise between athletes and managers," Hassan noted.
"We've maintained phone contact with him from the start, and I had a face-to-face meeting when he arrived at the national team facility. His attention is completely devoted to the tournament."
Salah aims to lead Egypt to a record-breaking eighth Africa Cup of Nations championship in Morocco. Despite his remarkable career achievements, the Pharaohs icon has not yet claimed the trophy, having been defeated in finals against Cameroon in 2017 and Senegal in 2022.
Egypt begins their AFCON journey on Monday, Dec. 22, facing Zimbabwe at the Grande Stade d'Agadir in Morocco.